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Repossession and how to avoid it Avoiding repossession - 5 top tips

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Complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service if your lender treats you unfairly

If you're struggling with your mortgage and worried about repossession, it's worth seeking professional help. The checklist below will help you get started.

1. Avoid falling behind with your mortgage payments

If you think you're going to have a problem making your regular payments, contact your lender immediately to explain your circumstances. You have the right to discuss options with your lender such as:

  • repaying arrears over a longer time
  • reducing payments or taking a payment holiday
  • changing the mortgage to interest only
  • adding the arrears to the overall mortgage.

Also find out whether you save money by remortgaging using the Which? mortgage deal finder.

2. Find out about government mortgage help

If you lose your job or your income drops, find out whether you’re eligible for government mortgage help.

3. Read your mortgage terms

Read your mortgage terms and conditions carefully so you know what sort of action your lender might take if you fall behind. If your mortgage lender tries to take action that appears to be outside the terms and conditions or is unreasonable generally, ask it to confirm in writing why it’s doing it.

Remember that court rules say repossession should be the last resort and that a repossession claim should not normally be started when you're still exploring ways of solving the problem with your lender. 

4. Complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service

Is you lender acting fairly and reasonably? If not and it starts to take action to repossess your home, consider a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) that your lender is not treating you fairly.

5. Get independent free advice if you are worried about repossession

Organisations such as Citizens Advice, National Debtline or the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) are available to give you advice to help you stay in your home.

Visit our guide to dealing with debt for more information.