Helping UK Home Owners Stop Repossession

What repossession means
Step-by-step process of repossession you need to know
What you can do to avoid losing your home and
How to avoid repossession even if you are already facing a court appearance

It can happen to anyone for a lot of reasons. However, majority of us know very little or nothing at all about the processes involved in a repossession procedure. And even fewer are aware that repossession procedures can be prevent in most situations.

Missing two or more months of your mortgage payments will surely initiate lender actions to collect your arrears or debt delinquency. They will contact you both by phone and in writing, some of which may be threatening in tone.

They will surely call you several times and even threaten you with court action if you do not pay. They can go as far as ask you to put your mortgage payments via credit card so that you can pay them over the phone. Do not let them bully you into doing such a thing.

Make sure you write down all details including time and date of all phone conversations. If the case ends up in court you will be better prepared if you have your notes ready.

Most likely, you will receive a demand letter from the lender's solicitor requiring you to pay all arrears in full plus any fees and penalties.

This letter will be most likely mention that if you do not comply, you are likely to lose your home any day now. This is untrue unless of course you do nothing and do not contact your lender to make arrangements to settle the arrears. Keep in mind that the solicitor's letter is the only the initial step of the process of repossession.

Make that all communication with your lender and the solicitors are in writing to keep a record of all agreements you make. The more written evidence you have the better your chances are of not losing your home if the case goes to court.

The lender will ask the judge to issue a ossession Order (which gives them the right to evict you and anyone living in your home, take possession of your property, and to sell it to recover the mortgage and all incurred costs in the repossession process.

Due to the increasing number of repossessions, it may take a minimum of 2 weeks and maximum of 12 weeks before the court can schedule a hearing date.

Regardless of the reliability of the Royal Mail, make sure to take your documents to rt personally. Have it received properly and ensure that you have copies of all forms you complete and any supporting documents you submitted with it.

Do not ever forget the date and time of the hearing, be at the hearing venue at least half an hour before schedule. There are instances whereby lenders and mortgagors reach an agreement before the hearing begins!

Before the hearing starts, you can stop the procedure by paying the arrears in full or by coming to an agreement with the lender regarding a payment scheme to increase the amount of your monthly mortgage payments to payoff outstanding arrears. Should the lender agree, they have the authority to suspend proceedings before the Court hearing.

However, there may be some sub-prime lenders who may prefer to take over your property and do want your arrears paid. This could be for any number of reasons like they can charge you very expensive fees for the disposal of your home.

Never, ever allow anyone from the lender or their solicitors to convince you that there is no point in turning up for the Court hearing. They don't want you to turn up because if you don't the judge has no choice but to grant the lender possession of your home.

On the other hand, if you turn up the judge can evaluate your evidence and may be more sympathetic to you. Make sure you turn up and do your best to present a good case before the judge. It really can make a difference.

And even if you had already reached an agreement with the lender, you should still show up just in case the solicitor has not received the advice regarding the agreement. In this case, the solicitor can still request the judge to grant a possession order.