Housing
ListenMortgage arrears or payment difficulties
If you have difficulty paying your mortgage, problems are easier to resolve if they are tackled at an early stage. You may be able to avoid losing your home by getting advice and coming to an arrangement with your mortgage lender or the courts.
Get advice
Get help from one of the free debt advice services.
Talk to your lender
If you get into financial difficulties and find you can't pay your mortgage talk to your lender.They have a set procedure for dealing with situations like yours. For example, depending on your circumstances, your lender may agree to change your payments to something you can manage.
Claim benefits
You may qualify for an income support payment to help you pay the interest part of your mortgage, but it will only cover interest payments for mortgages up to £100,000. If your mortgage is higher than this you will have to find the money to pay the rest of the interest yourself. However, you won’t be eligible if for this benefit if:
- if you have a joint mortgage and only one of you loses your income or
- you have household savings of more than £8,000
For more information visit the Department of Work and Pensions website
Bracknell Forest Homes tenant benefits
Bracknell Forest Homes offers a free tenant benefits advice service. The service aims to advise tenants and leaseholders of the exact benefits they may be eligible for and how to claim them.
For more information contact Bracknell Forest Homes on 01344 382937.
Don't
- Take out a loan to pay off your debts- you will just make things worse
- Hand back the keys to your property - you will still be liable for the mortgage until the property is sold
- Sell your home to a company who offer to rent it back to you - these schemes are not regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA)
- Go to a fee charging debt management company - there are plenty of Free advice services which offer a better service at no cost
If you have difficulty paying your rent
If you have difficulty paying your rent you need to take action straight away. If you get advice and help straight away you stand a better chance of coming to an arrangement with your landlord to help you stay living in your home.
Tell your landlord
It is important to tell your landlord straight away if you are having difficulty paying your rent. If you talk to them early enough they are usually willing to agree a sensible payment plan so you can pay off any rent arrears and avoid losing your home. The longer you leave it the more difficult it is to make an agreement.
Get advice
Contact the Citizen’s Advice Bureau as soon as you can- they will help you make sure you are getting all the welfare benefits you are entitled to (including housing and council tax) and help you sort out a budget to make sure your priority expenses (like rent) are paid first. They will also help you negotiate with your landlord.
Don't
- Don't take out a loan to pay of debts - this will only make matters worse
- Don't pay for advice that you can get free
Don't bury your head in the sand - your problems will only get worse. If you are evicted you will have to find alternative accommodation for yourself and anyone else who is living with you. If you are are evicted for non-payment of rent you will be considered to have made yourself intentionally homeless, in which case the Council has no obligation to provide you with housing (except for a short period to giveyou a chance to find another home).
Help with finding private rented accommodation
If you are looking for private rented accommodation in the Bracknell Forest area, the Council may be able to help you with information about private landlords or help with a rent deposit loan.
If you like some advice or help with finding private rented accommodation, you should contact the Housing Options Service on 01344 351198 and arrange to see a housing options advisor.
If you find yourself homeless
Bracknell Forest Council has a legal duty to help individuals and families who are homeless or are about to lose their home and meet the qualifying criteria. The Housing Options Service is responsible for assessing needs and determining whether or not individuals and families are entitled to help.
If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness, you should contact the Housing Options Team on 01344 351198 and arrange to see a housing options advisor.
Thinking of renting your house?
LACORS have published some guidance aimed at people who are thinking about renting out their home. It is particularly aimed at people affected by the current recession who are unable to sell their home - the so called ‘reluctant landlords’. The simple guide includes a 10-point checklist advising landlords how to avoid the pitfalls of private renting. Please see the downloads section to the right of this page for a copy of the guidance.
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