Housing

Speak to your lender to inform them of your circumstances, they may be able to help you by:

• Changing the length and term of your mortgage
• Accepting reduced payments from you in the short-term, this could be making interest only payments or agreeing to pay less than the contractual monthly payments for a short while
• Adding any mortgage arrears to the amount you have already borrowed

You must speak to them as soon as you know you will not be able to make payments

Are you claiming all the benefits you are entitled to?

• If you have mortgage protection are you able to make a claim?
• You may be entitled to claim mortgage interest payments from the Department of Works & Pensions. Check with them – they can now make payments 13 weeks from you claiming Job Seekers Allowance or income support in most cases
• If your income has reduced notify the Tax credits immediately as you may be entitled to increased child and/or Working Tax Credit
• Find out if you can claim Council Tax Benefit – see the Council Tax section of this website for more information and an online entitlement calculator

Look at your expenditure. Can you make cutbacks?

• Complete a budgeting sheet, detailing everything that you need to pay out each month
• Prioritise! Mortgage payments, loans secured on the mortgage, council tax and utility bills should be paid before any other debts
• If you owe money to credit cards, store cards and for unsecured loans (this list is not exhaustive) you can seek the help of a debt advisor. They may be able to renegotiate your payments
• All advice services that provide debt advice services will be able to advice and assist with all your money issues

If the lender has already taken re-possession proceedings, it's not too late to negotiate. You can still:

• Contact the housing options centre in either Bradford or Keighley
• Liaise with CHAS, CAB or KEYHOUSE
• Contact your Local Advice Agency