What support is available if I'm struggling to meet mortgage payments?

Support for mortgage payment difficulties can come from your lender, government assistance, insurance, local authority services and independent debt or legal advisers. The appropriate option depends on whether the problem is a temporary income shock, a long-term affordability issue, existing arrears, or a risk of repossession.

Check whether insurance can help. Mortgage payment protection, income protection or critical illness cover may contribute towards payments if the policy terms are met. Review the policy wording for qualifying events, exclusions, excess periods and claim deadlines. If your employment or health has changed, ask the insurer what evidence is required and whether making a claim affects any other support.

Consider Support for Mortgage Interest. Eligible people receiving certain income-related benefits may be able to apply for a government loan towards the interest on their mortgage. This is not a grant: it is secured against the property and normally has to be repaid, usually when the property is sold or ownership changes. It does not necessarily clear existing arrears or cover the capital part of the mortgage. Check current eligibility and terms before relying on it, as the rules depend on your benefits and circumstances.

Ask the local authority about housing support. Your council’s housing options service may assess whether you are at risk of homelessness and explain prevention duties, emergency accommodation rules and locally available welfare assistance. Council support does not generally replace mortgage payments, but it can be important if keeping the property is no longer realistic or if repossession could leave you without suitable housing. Rules and assistance differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Review the lender’s proposed solution carefully. A revised payment may reduce immediate pressure but increase the total interest, extend the mortgage term, add fees or leave a shortfall at the end. Ask for the effect on the balance, term and total cost in writing. A temporary concession should not be treated as affordable unless you can maintain it after essential household costs and other priority commitments have been allowed for.

Mortgage arrears are a priority debt because the property secures the borrowing. Prepare a realistic income-and-expenditure statement showing wages or benefits, essential bills, household costs, unsecured debts and any irregular expenses. Keep records of letters, payment proposals and evidence of changed circumstances. An adviser can use this information to assess whether a repayment plan, benefits claim, insurance claim, restructuring or another route is sustainable rather than simply postponing the problem.

Legal and court-based support may also be available. If possession proceedings have started, the lender must follow the relevant pre-action requirements and provide information about the arrears and proposed action. A court may consider your circumstances and, where appropriate, make an order allowing you to remain in the property subject to specified payments. Do not ignore a claim form or hearing notice: obtain housing or legal advice and comply with the deadline stated on the documents. Repossession procedure is not identical throughout the UK, so advice should be based on the nation in which the property is located.

If the mortgage is no longer affordable, assess the property’s position before deciding what to do. Obtain an up-to-date redemption figure, check for early repayment charges, establish whether there is positive equity and identify any second charge or other secured borrowing. A voluntary sale may provide more control than waiting for enforcement, but it needs to account for the outstanding mortgage, sale costs, timescales and any risk of negative equity. Regulated debt or legal advice is particularly important where the sale proceeds may not clear all secured debts.

Support is most effective when it addresses both the immediate payment gap and the underlying affordability problem. Keep essential documents together, including the mortgage statement, arrears correspondence, benefit information, insurance policy and household budget, so that any adviser or authority can assess the position accurately.