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Housing Solicitors
Specialist Mortgage Arrears Advice at Duncan Lewis (27 January 2014)
Date: 27/01/2014
On 8th August 2013 the latest official statistics on Mortgage possession statistics*1 were released. There were 8,000 mortgage repossessions in the first quarter (January – April of 2013). In the second quarter (May – June 2013) there were 7,700 properties taken into possession by mortgage lenders.
In the first six months of the year, the number of cases of possession totalled 15,700. This is the lowest number since the second half of 2007, when there were 13,100 cases. Whilst there is a downward trend this coincides with a decrease in the number of owner occupiers.
Between 1981 and 2005, the number of owner occupied households increased steadily, reaching a peak in 2005. Since 2006, the number of owner occupied households has decreased. The latest figures from the English Housing Survey*2 shows that the number of owner occupied households decreased from the peak of 14.8 million in 2005 and 2006 to 14.4 million in 2011 – 12.
At Duncan Lewis we believe that the great pressures on household incomes are creating a real risk of reversing the recent downward trend in mortgage possessions. We do not believe household incomes would be very resilient to any increase in interest rates and despite the recent rhetoric on this subject, there is no guarantee that they will remain low.
At DL our Debt Solicitors provide advice and court representation where there is a risk of losing your home through mortgage repossession. Our Debt Solicitors have an excellent track record of appearing at Court on behalf of borrowers and successfully suspending evictions, suspending orders for possessions and negotiating arrears repayments plans.
Despite deep cuts in legal aid DL remains able to provide debt advice under legal aid, where there is a risk of losing your home. Our Solicitors represent borrowers at Central London County Court under the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme.
This is a publicly funded scheme through Legal Aid, providing court representation on the day of a court hearing. We are also one of the specialist providers of debt advice for those eligible for legal aid, through the Community Legal Advice scheme, via the helpline (0845 345 4 345).
If you are at risk of losing your home we can advise you and give you practical advice to help avoid the threat of eviction.
Please contact Erol Izzet via email on eroli@duncanlewis.com for any further help or advice in respect of any matter raised in this article.
*1.https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/227097/mortgage-landlord-possession-q2-13.pdf
*2. www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-communities-and-local-government/series/english-housing-survey