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Stop House Repossession. 


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Stop the Repossession of Your Home

We all assume that we will move out of our home as and when we are ready. But what do we do when this decision is taken out of our hands? A lot of people struggle with the cost of owning a home. Property provides one of the biggest financial burdens people face in their lifetime, with many people stretching themselves to be able to afford to put a roof over their heads. The cost doesn’t end when you get the keys either. This is just the ‘end of the beginning’ given the ongoing cost of paying a mortgage and footing the bill for any repairs required.

With this in mind, it’s little surprise that some people struggle to keep up. The Financial Conduct Authority points out that there is more than £15 billion in late mortgage repayments owed in the UK. While this figure has fallen in recent years – especially since the 2008/9 recession – it’s clearly a significant amount. Indeed, more than 80,000 people are in arrears of more than 2.5% of their outstanding balance.

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What is House Repossession?

House repossession occurs when a lender, who has a loan secured against the property, takes possession of it to pay off a debt. This often happens if a homeowner does not make the payments on their mortgage. Still, house repossession can happen with any type of loan secured against a property.

Once a lender has taken possession of the property, they can sell it to pay off the debt.

Why Do Houses Get Repossessed? 

House repossessions can only occur if someone does not keep up with loan payments secured against the property. You risk home repossession if you do not pay your mortgage or fail to keep up with the repayments on any other loan secured against your property.

With that being said, the repossession process is a last resort. For lenders, a lot of time, money, and effort is spent repossessing a property. They’d rather you pay them back, so rest assured that missing a few payments won’t result in an automatic repossession. You’ll have multiple opportunities before that point to rectify the problem, and it is only when you fail to agree with the lender that a repossession becomes a real possibility.

How Many Payments Can Be Missed Before Repossession? 

Lenders in the UK have an agreement that they will not start repossession proceedings until at least three missed mortgage or loan payments. Well, the major lenders do. However, the smaller lenders tend to stick to this too.  Don’t fret if you’ve just missed a single payment. As long as you are able to get yourself back on track, there’s little to no chance that you’ll end up losing your property. 

After the three months of missed payments have passed, they will start repossession proceedings. Even then, the goal isn’t to get you out of your property right away. 

The lender will want to work with you to come up with some sort of repayment agreement to get everything running smoothly again and will provide you with advice along the way. 

This doesn’t mean that the lender is obligated to accept a repayment agreement that you suggest. After three months, house repossession starts to become a very real reality. However, do remember that the lenders are on your side. They want to help you while also ensuring that the lender gets their money back.  

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How to Avoid a House Repossession

The quickest way to get your home repossessed is to ignore the lender. As we have said, the lender wants to work with you. If they reach out, talk to them. You may be able to come to some agreement. Once again, the lender really doesn’t want you to lose your home unless it is 100% necessary.

If you ever feel that you are likely to default on your loan payments, then talk to the lender even before they reach out to you. It is much easier to rectify any problems before they become a massive issue, and some solutions could lower payments for the next few months as opposed to you missing even more payments, getting yourself further into arrears.

Talk to the Lender

The quickest way to get your home repossessed is to ignore the lender. As we have said, the lender wants to work with you. If they reach out, talk to them. You may be able to come to some agreement. Once again, the lender really doesn’t want you to lose your home unless it is 100% necessary.

If you ever feel that you are likely to default on your loan payments, then talk to the lender even before they reach out to you. It is much easier to rectify any problems before they become a massive issue, and some solutions could lower payments for the next few months as opposed to you missing even more payments, getting yourself further into arrears.

Come up with a Repayment Plan

Eventually, the lender will reach out and tell you how much you owe. You can then suggest a repayment plan. It is up to the lender to accept or reject it, but, of course, they are only going to consider serious repayment plans. 

Lenders often have various options they can use to help you get back on track. Consider discussing these with the lender: 

  • Lenders often have various options they can use to help you get back on track. So, consider discussing these with the lender:
  • Set up a repayment plan for the missed payments, so you pay a little bit more each month until the arrears have cleared.
  • Freeze interest on the loan, which should lower the repayments for a brief period.
  • Reduce the payments owed each month but extend the duration of the loan. However, this will mean that you’ll need to pay more interest overall.
  • Change your mortgage type or move to a different plan. Options will depend on what the lender offers.

As long as you are not being unreasonable about what you offer, and you are confident you can pay what you are offering, you’ll likely come to an agreement with the lender.

Seek Financial Assistance Elsewhere

If your income has changed, you should look into seeking financial assistance elsewhere. For example, claiming benefits, e.g., universal credit, homelessness help, or perhaps taking a part-time job, at least until you get back on track. 

Sell Your Home Fast

The repossession process will stop if you can prove you are selling your home. So, if you are really struggling to afford the repayments, it may be wise to sell your home quickly. This way, you can cover the money you owe on the mortgage quickly, and you won’t end up with a home repossession on your credit report.  

Cash house buyers like We Buy Any Home are often the best way to sell your home quickly, so get a free cash offer today if you need assistance. 

It is worth noting that if you sell your home before repossession, you will usually end up getting a better price for your home than your lender would, reducing the chances of you needing to pay cash to the lender. 

The number of people with
mortgage arrears of more than
2.5% of their outstanding balance…

2.5% – 5%

34,900

5% – 7.5%

15,300

7.5% – 10%

8,600

10%+

24,500

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How The Repossession Process Works – Step by Step

In the UK, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have specific guidelines in place that detail the exact process a mortgage lender must follow before they repossess your home. This should make every single step predictable, so you’ll know what to do along the way and what to do to stop repossession of house.

The first step is for the mortgage lender to let you know of your arrears. They must inform you of the following:

  • The size of your arrears
  • Details of any payments you have made over the last 2 years
  • Interest and fees that will be added to your mortgage
  • What your current payments per month should be
  • The total left of your debt

You should also get a bit of information on how to seek advice.

Provide You with Information on Your Arrears

The first step is for the mortgage lender to let you know of your arrears. They must inform you of the following:

  • The size of your arrears
  • Details of any payments you have made over the last 2 years
  • Interest and fees that will be added to your mortgage
  • What your current payments per month should be
  • The total left of your debt

You should also get a bit of information on how to seek advice.

Allow You to Submit an Offer to Rectify the Issue

You are then free to submit an offer to the lender. It can be as small as you like but, as we said, try to be realistic. Don’t offer them paltry sums as this will be a waste of your and their time.

You are free to come up with your own offer, and advice helplines will put you on the right path here.

Respond Within 10 Days

The lender has a legal obligation to consider any offer you make to them. They can accept or reject it. They must inform you of their decision within 10 days either way.

If Accepted – Stop the Process. If your offer is accepted, the process stops. You meet the obligations that you promised, and everything is fine.

If Declined – Allow You to Rectify the Problem Once More. If the offer is rejected, you can make a more suitable offer. However, if you cannot, the lender should give you the opportunity to do a few things:

  • Seek benefits of financial help.
  • Start the process of selling your property for a reasonable price.

If you can demonstrate that you are doing either of those, then the lender will pause the repossession process. If you are selling your home, for example to us here at We Buy Any Home, then the funds that you receive from the house sale should go to paying the mortgage.

Inform You That You’ll Have the Case Taken to Court

If you still haven’t come up with a solution, the lender must tell you that they’ll be taking you to court. They must inform you 2 weeks before this happens. You’ll eventually be given a court date, and you’ll have your chance to speak to the court and make a further proposal.

If the judge grants a repossession order, then the final stage of the process begins. However, the judge may also rule in your favour and grant you time to pay off the arrears. Although, you may only have a limited period to do so.

Remember – at this stage, you’re still free to negotiate with the lender. Just because they have a repossession order doesn’t mean they want to seize your property. Some lenders will take offers right up to the repossession date, although they no longer have an obligation to respond to your offers.

Repossess Your Property

If the judge decides that your property should be repossessed, you’ll be given a date for repossession. This will, normally, be 28 days away. You must leave your property by this date. If you are still in the property, you’ll be evicted. The eviction may require a further court order.

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Popular Areas We Buy Any Home

We operate across the United Kingdom including England, Scotland, and Wales. We can buy your house fast, whether you’re in the northernmost parts of Scotland or enjoying life on the beaches on the south coast.

Sell Your House Quickly to Avoid Repossession

Nobody ever wants to deal with a house repossession. They are extremely stressful and very costly. If you are faced with a house repossession, it is important that you come to an agreement with your lender as soon as possible. If you cannot do that, then it may be wise to sell your home quickly. If you want to get a free cash offer on your home, reach out to us at We Buy Any Home. You could receive cash for your home in as little as 7 days.

How it works

We’re completely transparent throughout the process of buying your home. Here’s how it works:

  • Fill in the online form
    Call us on 0800 774 0004
    or fill in your details online through
    our Valuation Form.

  • Receive offer
    Once we’ve received the details of
    your property, we will make you an
    offer within 24 hours.

  • Sale agreed
    The sale will be agreed! Sit back, relax,
    and let us take care of all the work.

Frequently asked questions about selling to avoid house repossession

Call our team of experts:
0800 774 0004

How to stop repossession of your home?

If you’re facing repossession and looking for a way to avoid this, We Buy Any Home can step in and purchase your property for cash, which would stop the repossession from taking place. How this works, is that the cash we pay you will cover what you owe the bank – as long as our cash offer is greater than the amount you owe on the mortgage. From the moment you contact us we can act very quickly to purchase your property and stop repossession from happening; our quickest turnaround time from initial contact to completion is just 7 days. However, you should always contact us as early as possible, as delays can be caused by unforeseen factors.

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Why use a cash house buyer rather than being repossessed?

Being repossessed can be extremely detrimental to your long-term financial health. The CCJ (County Court Judgement) against you will be entered onto your credit record at the Register of Judgements, Orders and Fines, where it will stay for six years. This will then make it incredibly difficult for you to get another mortgage, or even to get a credit card or bank account. When you’re facing repossession and you have no other means by which to settle the debt, selling up on your own terms will always be by far your best option. If the offer you receive from a cash house buyer such as We Buy Any Home would cover the amount you owe the bank, it is most certainly a better course of action than letting the repossession take place.

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Can you stop a CCJ (County Court Judgement)?

Yes, we can. To stop a CCJ you need to pay back the amount you owe within 30 days of receiving it. As We Buy Any Home are able to step in and purchase your property for cash, you can pay back your lender within that timeframe and stop the CCJ from being entered onto your credit record at the Register of Judgements, Orders and Fines.

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If you stop home repossession, can I go on living in the property?

Yes. To help during this difficult time, we are happy to offer a grace period in which you can continue to live in the property rent free for a period of time, once the property has been purchased by us.

On a longer term basis, we typically will look to sell on any property we purchase. However, in some cases we will rent the property out – depending on what the rental market is like in the area. If you would like to remain in the property We Buy Any Home purchase from you as a tenant, make sure to discuss this with your dedicated agent during your initial phone call. They will then assess whether this is possible and if so will work to make it happen for you.

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Should you sell your house to stop repossession? 

If you see no other path to paying off your debt, it may be wise to sell your home to stop a repossession. 

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Should you sell your home to an estate agent, online cash buyer, or at an auction? 

The choice is yours. You’ll likely get more if you go through an estate agent, but an online cash buyer at We Buy Any Home will let you sell your property faster and can guarantee a sale. If you sell via an estate agent, you may not get a buyer, and if you do it may take many months to complete, and you run the risk of a buyer pulling out. You’ll also lose a considerable sum by way of commission payments and legal fees. We Buy Any Home may not be able to offer you the full market value for your home but we do take care of all fees, do not charge commission and can have your home sold within weeks. Get a free cash offer today.  

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Where are house repossessions recorded?  

All house repossessions are recorded in The Land Registry. There will also be a mention in your credit report. Some local newspapers may also record house repossessions. 

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How long does house repossession take? 

This will depend on the lender. On average, a repossession is wrapped up within 5-6 months. However, some repossessions can drag on for upwards of a year. 

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What happens after a house repossession?  

Once your home has been repossessed, the lender will put the house on the market. They have a legal responsibility to get the highest possible price for it, although they will be angling for a quick sale so they may accept significantly below market value. 

The proceeds from the sale will be used to pay off the mortgage. If there is any surplus, you will be given this. If you still owe money, then the lender will start the process to recover that debt from you, which may take a while, since you don’t really have any assets they can recover from. 

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Here you will find the latest UK property
news about home repossession

View Repossession articles
What Happens When the 12-Month Mortgage Grace Period is Over?
Everything You Need to Know About Negative Equity
Repossession: What to Do if You’re at Risk of Losing Your Home
What to Do If You Are Behind on Your Mortgage Payments?
What Does a 12 Month Grace Period on Repossession Mean for You?
How Does Redundancy Pay Affect Universal Credit
How Long After Being Made Redundant Can I Sign On?
What Are My Rights When Facing Repossession?
Does Repossession Affect My Credit Score?

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