To hand back the keys or to hold on????

[Shineupon128]

I have been browsing these threads for a while now and am more confused than ever as to what to do.

To cut a long story short I have been off work for almost 2 years, I am self employed and have a rental proprty...I found myself pregnant with twins and the daddy ran away with fright (bless him)..

Unfortunately carrying twins made me quite ill so I couldn't work so I informed my mortgage company before I missed a payment along with all my other creditors to explain the situation, lo and behold this plea fell on deaf ears so I ended up paying no mortgage or any other bill for 12 months as I had no income apart from £45 per week and the surplus on my rental property and I did manage to get two lodgers which helped with everyday expenses.

then the same week my babies were born in june, I went to court for repossession of my home which was scary as I had tried to find alternative accommodation with no joy as I was quite prepared to let my bricks and mortar go and find somewhere more affordable to live, but without a good deposit of at least six months I couldn't find anywhere that would take me on!! so in court I agreed to pay the normal repayment amount of £865 + £100 per month for the £6000 + arrears I had amassed, I have managed to pay this as my maternity allowance had started and my tax credit was increased, I have begged my mortgage company to put my payments to interest only but they are refusing to do this, I have left myself with no money for food, nappies or anything else, relying on handouts from friends for the past few months, but my maternity allowance has now stopped so I can no way make these payments, my two lodgers havn't paid me anything for months, both having been laid off and are waiting on JSA, housing benefits to pay up, Council Tax are insisting I pay £170 per month but with only £860 coming in a month I am totally lost as to what to do now, apart from hand back my keys!!

I have asked them to even put me on interest only for a few months so I can get my business kick started but they still refuse, I explained I would be able to at least feed myself and the babies and pay a few other creditors who are hounding me and give me time to get back on my feet, I have even claimed for child support as the daddy doesn't have any contact or help out with the babies in any way, but at least that will enable me to buy my own nappies!!!

I am in the process of trying to find somewhere else to live but no agent will entertain me at present so what do I do guys i am totally lost!!!

this month will be the first month of not paying again although I could pay just the interest amount plus the arears amount but if they still take action again will it be wasted money I could put towards a rental proprty, how long does it take for them to turf you out? what tips has anyone got in finding a new place to live!! shelter havn't really helped because I have the other rental property but how can I turf the tenents out, that will take time and time i havnt got!!! that place is up for sale anyway and has been for 12 months!!!

any advice welcome!!

[Sagittarius]

Bump ...

[jansus]

first of all - why can you not get rid of the tennants if they are not paying?

 

Also do you have any kind of suspened possession order on the property ?

 

Have you had a court hearing at all?

 

Which property is for sale - the one you live in or the one with tennants?

 

Do you have a mortgage on both?

 

Is it an official buy to let mortgage? Is that what your previous business was?

 

Do you have equity in either property?

[PriorityOne]

Unfortunately carrying twins made me quite ill so I couldn't work so I informed my mortgage company before I missed a payment along with all my other creditors to explain the situation, This would need to be in writing for them to take any notice of you....lo and behold this plea fell on deaf ears so I ended up paying no mortgage or any other bill for 12 months as I had no income apart from £45 per week and the surplus on my rental property and I did manage to get two lodgers which helped with everyday expenses.

then the same week my babies were born in june, I went to court for repossession of my home which was scary as I had tried to find alternative accommodation with no joy as I was quite prepared to let my bricks and mortar go and find somewhere more affordable to live, but without a good deposit of at least six months I couldn't find anywhere that would take me on!! so in court I agreed to pay the normal repayment amount of £865 + £100 per month for the £6000 + arrears I had amassed, I have managed to pay this as my maternity allowance had started and my tax credit was increased, I have begged my mortgage company to put my payments to interest only but they are refusing to do this, In writing? I have left myself with no money for food, nappies or anything else, relying on handouts from friends for the past few months, but my maternity allowance has now stopped so I can no way make these payments, my two lodgers havn't paid me anything for months, both having been laid off and are waiting on JSA, housing benefits to pay up, Council Tax are insisting I pay £170 per month but with only £860 coming in a month I am totally lost as to what to do now, apart from hand back my keys!! Which ones? If you hadn't had the rental property, you could have claimed interest payments on your mortgage from DWP.... it's because your mortgage co. has had nothing for 12 months that they're not willing to help you, in my opinion.

I have asked them to even put me on interest only for a few months so I can get my business kick started but they still refuse, see above... I explained I would be able to at least feed myself and the babies and pay a few other creditors who are hounding me and give me time to get back on my feet, they will not be interested in this... I have even claimed for child support as the daddy doesn't have any contact or help out with the babies in any way, but at least that will enable me to buy my own nappies!!! This really should have been done from the start in order to protect your family...

I am in the process of trying to find somewhere else to live but no agent will entertain me at present so what do I do guys i am totally lost!!!

this month will be the first month of not paying again Never a good idea... This is a priority debt and your "few other creditors" are not. Use the money you would normally pay these sharks to safeguard yourself and we'll help you deal with them as a separate issue. although I could pay just the interest amount plus the arears amount but if they still take action again will it be wasted money I could put towards a rental proprty, You are still there though... how long does it take for them to turf you out? It's not instant... I can't remember how long my own repossession took as it was a long time ago now.... but it was months; not weeks. what tips has anyone got in finding a new place to live!! shelter havn't really helped because I have the other rental property but how can I turf the tenents out, that will take time and time i havnt got!!! I think you need to decide whether it's worth hanging onto this 2nd property at all.... but if so, you do need to set the wheels in motion to get them out because they're having a free ride at your expense. If they are unemployed, then why isn't their Housing Benefit not coming to you? that place is up for sale anyway and has been for 12 months!!! Have you considered reducing the price for a faster sale? Are you intending to sell with tenants still living there?

any advice welcome!!

 

..

[Shineupon128]

Thanks guys I know the message was a bit garbled panick I guess!!!

 

Jensus, I have told my live in tenants they will have to get me the money they owe by Monday or they are out on Monday, the reason why I have held onto them is that I needed the money they would bring in but seeing as it is none then they can go!!! aparently it takes two month for housing benefits to pay up and then they pay a month in arears so by the second month they should have been paid, one of the lodgers says they havn't been paid yet and the other was given about £115 but decided his car insurance was more important. so Monday is their deadline pay up or get out..

There is a kind of suspended possession order on the house, I guess that's what they mean by pay the agreed amount as it will not go back to court aparently, its all a bit confusing to me...

 

No court hearing at present!!

 

The property that is tenented not my main home in which I have lodgers

 

Yes both are mortgaged, my maine home in which I have none paying lodgers is repayment mortgage and my rented one is interest only which is all fully paid up to date with no problems which is an official buy to let mortgage.

 

My business that still is hopefully, starting back on Monday with the few clients I have left is book keeping and payroll!!

 

There is a little in the buy to let property probably about 5-10K this is why it is up for sale and has been for 12 months. But my residential mortgage is about 40K negative equity.

 

They won't put me on interest only because of the negative equity but because I have paid ok for the past 7 months they looked at putting the debt onto the end of the mortgage or extending my mortgage but cant put the debt onto the end because of the negative equity but will extend my mortgage but with around 20 quid saving a year with an extra 15 year on my mortgage is hardly worth extending the time, the only thing that can save me is interest only which they flatly refuse to so because of the negative equity.

 

Priority One - I did claim for csa when the babies were a month old as daddy wasn't forthcoming with my requests for help, they are now 7 months old and csa are taking their time giving me allsorts of excuses along the way but I am still fighting this one...

I have managed to scrape enough money together to pay this months at the expense of my council tax tried to pay today but they were closed!!!

It probably is worth holding onto the second property as it gives me an extra 200 per month income and pays for itself the tenants are always on time paying and I have a seperate account that deals with that so there is no problem with that, but it is up for sale anyway!! as a vacant possession as it is on a periodic tenancy and the council will house them no problem as I asked about this when I was having trouble at the start...

I think in all reality I am better off finding a rented place I can afford, getting rid of the rental property, I think this should be easier now I have paid my mortgage for 7 months to find somewhere that will take a chance on me, and going bankrupt, although this means starting right from the beginning and finding a new career, I really do need to put the twins first and be a happy mother not a worried one!!

[PriorityOne]

Jensus, I have told my live in tenants they will have to get me the money they owe by Monday or they are out on Monday, the reason why I have held onto them is that I needed the money they would bring in but seeing as it is none then they can go!!! aparently it takes two month for housing benefits to pay up and then they pay a month in arears so by the second month they should have been paid, one of the lodgers says they havn't been paid yet and the other was given about £115 but decided his car insurance was more important. so Monday is their deadline pay up or get out.. I hope it's as easy as that.... my ex had a lot of trouble getting his tenants out and had to go to court eventually.

There is a kind of suspended possession order on the house, I guess that's what they mean by pay the agreed amount as it will not go back to court aparently, its all a bit confusing to me...

 

No court hearing at present!!

 

The property that is tenented not my main home in which I have lodgers

 

Yes both are mortgaged, my maine home in which I have none paying lodgers is repayment mortgage and my rented one is interest only which is all fully paid up to date with no problems which is an official buy to let mortgage.

 

My business that still is hopefully, starting back on Monday with the few clients I have left is book keeping and payroll!!

 

There is a little in the buy to let property probably about 5-10K this is why it is up for sale and has been for 12 months. But my residential mortgage is about 40K negative equity. Ok... I see

 

They won't put me on interest only because of the negative equity but because I have paid ok for the past 7 months they looked at putting the debt onto the end of the mortgage or extending my mortgage but cant put the debt onto the end because of the negative equity but will extend my mortgage but with around 20 quid saving a year with an extra 15 year on my mortgage is hardly worth extending the time, the only thing that can save me is interest only which they flatly refuse to so because of the negative equity.

 

Priority One - I did claim for csa when the babies were a month old as daddy wasn't forthcoming with my requests for help, they are now 7 months old and csa are taking their time giving me allsorts of excuses along the way but I am still fighting this one... They can be a nightmare...

I have managed to scrape enough money together to pay this months at the expense of my council tax tried to pay today but they were closed!!!

It probably is worth holding onto the second property as it gives me an extra 200 per month income and pays for itself the tenants are always on time paying are these different tenants from the other tenants you mentioned? and I have a seperate account that deals with that so there is no problem with that, but it is up for sale anyway!! as a vacant possession as it is on a periodic tenancy and the council will house them no problem as I asked about this when I was having trouble at the start...

I think in all reality I am better off finding a rented place I can afford, getting rid of the rental property, I think this should be easier now I have paid my mortgage for 7 months to find somewhere that will take a chance on me, and going bankrupt, although this means starting right from the beginning and finding a new career, I really do need to put the twins first and be a happy mother not a worried one!!

 

Would it be feasible for you to move into the buy to let place yourself (seeing as it's up to date) and selling the other one instead? I'm not up on buy to let... so please excuse me if this sounds stupid...

[Shineupon128]

I actually considered moving back into the rental property but amongst not having time on my side to get the tenants they live on the same street as their mother sister aunt and brother so I can't imagine they would make my life easy if I moved back in especially if they themselves find it difficult to find somewhere else to live...also I can't change the mortgage back to a normal mortgage because of my circumstances and its through mortgage express who are part of bradford and bingley who went bump so arnt giving any more advances or changing mortgage statuses..

yes sorry priority one, the lodgers in my home are the ones not paying, the tenants pay ok every month....

Well now I do have a problem cos I don't have all the money for the mortgage today, a direct debit has gone out which has left me short now so besides not being able to pay the mortgage in full I can only pay the interest part and arears and still dont have enough for council tax, not to mention food or anything else,,,,arrrgghh, one of the lodgers gave me £100 today towards what he owes, the other hasn't been seen since I told him....I am so frustrated, I am erring on not bothering paying anything and just getting on the hunt for somewhere else saving that money for a deposit on another place, I think its just time to give up!! welcome top 2010 eh, looks like its gonna be a fun year!! not!

[PriorityOne]

Oh I see... your house with tenants takes care of itself. That's a good thing.

 

So that leaves the lodgers... If they're not paying, then they need to go and as you live in the same property as they do, then this shouldn't be too difficult (in theory anyway).

 

The decision you have before you then is to either... go into privately rented accommodation or stay put. The council won't house you if you have another property. Years ago, I had a similar dilemma (without the 2nd property).... but it's probably unfair to tell you my decision in case it influences you. You and I are not the same person...

 

You need to decide if there's any way you can manage to stay where you are and carry on. Is this what you want? If this is not an attractive long-term option, then the answer might be for you to consider looking towards privately rented accommodation and start afresh there. Are you likely to feel more secure in rented accommodation or not?.... and would your outgoings be any different to what they are now? If not, then you'd be giving up your home for nothing..... so think carefully.

[Shineupon128]

This is my main dilema a very hard decision, if I stop paying the mortgage and find rented accommodation this means shortfall on my mortgage and a lot to pay back but with my other debts Bankruptcy is the only option which in turn ends my career and business, working in accountancy means bankruptsy is a big no no!! so it means a huge lifestyle change like going back to college and retraining, I am starting to feel like this is my only option as if I dont pay my mortgage this month the ball will begin to repossion, things are so frustrating when I worked so hard to make sure it has been paid for 7 months, I could have 7k now to sort me and the babies out in a new property and not struggled so much!!! all they have to do is put me on interest only, till I am back on my feet, starting back work on monday is looking like a waste of time!!! I may aswell sort myself some food and nappies, pay my council tax and just beg agents to take me on...and start looking at college courses!! For something as simple as not putting me on interest only is a huge blow when I have done everything I possibly can!!

[PriorityOne]

Bankrupcy is not your only option....

 

There are ways of dealing with your other creditors and you're not obliged to repay them more than you can genuinely afford.... unless they already have a County Court Judgement against you.

 

If you put these other debts to one side for a moment.... could you stay where you are and manage or not?

 

Who are the companies currently chasing you for other debts and what are these debts for? Please forgive me if you've already said earlier on somewhere...

 

[Shineupon128]

There arn't that many creditors to be honest but they are large amounts, I have tried to arrange small payment to them like £5 per month but one of my loans went to court last March and the judge refused my offer of payment but I havn't heard anything from them since. the others who wont accept my offers I have just paid anyway like £1, although I have my new gas and elec bill I now cant pay so am going to have to get them on meters I guess... Its so frustrating I am not a wont pay I am a cant pay, I worked so hard for years and the first time I make a mistake I cant get any help all I need is time to get back on my feet...frustration frustration frustration....water has helped me out though I have to say they have reduced my monthly bill to £25 per month which helps a lot and they know it wont pay all my yearly bill but I was hoping to be sorted by then and be able to clear the balance!! they are about the only people who have been helpful..

[PriorityOne]

I'm assuming the one that went to court is a CCJ, although if no-one's been in touch.... I'd leave it for now. That can always be sorted at a later date.

 

The paying of £1 to the rest is great actually... as it shows willing on your part, which could come in handy in the future..... so this needs to continue.... even though you may think it ridiculous.

 

I can remember having to contact the gas/elec companies when big bills came in and they agreed to put me on a DD and include the big bill in with it, so to speak.... so I didn't need to pay the big bill immediately. All this did was to buy time in reality, but it does help. I can even remember cancelling the DD when the bill started to get smaller because there came a time when I couldn't afford the DD either.... then when the big bill came in again, I'd arrange to set it up again. A constant juggling act and a headache, but one that ensured my survival at the time. Having meters is another option, but this is a much more expensive way of paying for your energy.... so it's a false economy in the long term. With young children, you also can't afford for it to run out.... but you need to do what's best for you and if meters will buy you some time, then it may be the answer.

 

Another idea.... if you continued to keep lodgers and they actually paid, could you stay where you are then? If so, you could get a new lot in... with rent in advance this time, so you can kick them out if they decide to have a free ride like these ones are.

 

I'll be logging off here in a while, but will check on you tomorrow.

 

[Shineupon128]

before I say anymore I just want to say thank you Priority One for just taking the time to listen, I don't feel like I am so much on my own with this anymore, you really don't know what it means to have someone to ping pong this with, let alone try to help me unscramble the mess, I can't thank you enough!!!

 

to continue.......Yes I thought about the dd route but with my mortgage company not being forthcoming with the interest only route, I have no spare funds for anything now my maternity allowance has ran out!! I have to pay my council Tax and mortgage which are my priority, if they do interest only which they wont then I will have some for utilities and nappies and food at least and the minimum payments which are around £20!!! without them doing interest only i have a big problem, mortgage swallows every penny and still leaves me with a balance to pay!!!

I have actually put new ads in for new lodgers this week, however with experience this can take months, although the one lodger who paid £100 today seems desperate to sort the situation and by Monday the other is 8 weeks behind so I can apply for an emergency thing they do, I have to give them a statement of dates and amounts owed and they will stop his benefit and pay me direct in future, wether this means I will get back pay is debatable and something I have to ask but I will be there first thing Monday morning to ask..but at least I know I will get a month seeing as they pay a month in arrears...

I actually find it ironic that I have housed loads of people over the years and have given plenty of people jobs and homes, now I need a helping hand myself I can't get anyone to help!!!

I am finding myself waining on the side of chucking in the towel going on the dole and living in a bedsit for a while and becoming a bankrupt for an easy life, but this option makes me feel sick!!!! I just can't kick the fighting spirit in me I guess, the twins make me want to keep going!!!!

[jansus]

Have you had a chance to read the mortgage protocol guidelines that lenders must adhere to?

 

If possible I would try and avoid handing over the keys and ask for permision ( there is case law to back this up) to sty in the house while it is sold.

 

This means that you reduce the possibility of the lender selling it WAY under value and increasing you debt .

 

yours is a complicated case and considering you have young children you need to consider your options carefully. My first bit of advice would be to pay whatever you can on the mortgage whenever you can and keep a record of exactly what is paid.the courts will take this in to account.

 

Have you double checked you are getiing all benefits /help you are entitled to?

 

 

If the mortgage was on interest only for a while would that really help you - in other words have you calculated what the difference would be ?

[Shineupon128]

Hi Jensus, Happy new year to you!!! I read it briefly but I will go back and read it again.....

 

The selling option is a bit of a contentious one as I have looked at this option, the mortgage company reckon the value is 105k although this is a ridiculouse figure and I have asked them how they come to this conclusion they never give me a straight answer as my other property is an ex council house and only three beds in a regeneration area and is on the market for that, so how this four bed semi in a very nice area can be worth that is beyond me especially as I bought it at 145k four years ago which was discounted from 175k for a quick sale, I cant undersytand it especially as there is one a few doors from me up at 139,950K and that is a 3 bed.

I dont quite understand their reasoning, surely it is better to help keep someone in their property with payments coming in rather than losing all that money which is what will happen, if i lose the house I will go bankrupt!!!

 

Tell me about it being complicated, that's why I don't seem to be able to get constructive help from the usual sources like citizens advice or cccs, shelter, housing or anywhere, although I must admit looking on the bright side of things I have learnt a lot which in turn could be the starting point of a new career!!!, lol...the disturbing thing is though that the only help I can get if I do end up homeless is a number for bedsits or social services who are obliged to house my kids in foster care but not me!!! what kind of society do we live in!!!!!!!!!!!

 

When you say the courts will take this into account is this referring to when they go for repossion, as I understand things, they said they would not take it back to court which is part of my agreement but surely they will have to go back to court for a repossession order, this I am a little confused by!!

 

I have checked all my entitlements and thats why i am even more angered by these lodgers as I lose my single persons discount on my council tax because there are two of them but could have kept it if there was only one as they are on jsa, which angers me all the more as they get around £60 per week in their hand for food and whatever, everything else is paid, they have no bills or anything else to pay!!! which is more than most working people have and to top it all off one of them has ruined my toilet seat today (which is rather funky I might add) with bloomin hair dye, no blooming respect some people!!!!! (gotta keep laughing or else I will just cry!!!)

 

I have calculated the difference to be around £400 per month which is an awful lot at least I would be able to pay my council tax which I cant as it stands, I paid every penny I had today to the mortgage but how am I going to explain this to council tax I have no idea, its a great choice homelessness with my kids in care or prison and my kids in care, the latter is more appealing as at least I would have a roof over my head!!!

This country is arse over tit, for people like me who try to help themselves and others, we may as well lay down and die like dogs when we need some help ourselves, just what is the point of paying all that tax over the years just to help others when most of them have never even bothered to help themselves, not all you understand I am just generalising, a lot of people deserve the state help they get but a lot dont and its those I get frustrated at especially as I need help myself and cant get any!!!

[PriorityOne]

I have checked all my entitlements and thats why i am even more angered by these lodgers as I lose my single persons discount on my council tax because there are two of them but could have kept it if there was only one as they are on jsa, which angers me all the more as they get around £60 per week in their hand for food and whatever, everything else is paid, they have no bills or anything else to pay!!! which is more than most working people have and to top it all off one of them has ruined my toilet seat today (which is rather funky I might add) with bloomin hair dye, no blooming respect some people!!!!! (gotta keep laughing or else I will just cry!!!)

 

I have calculated the difference to be around £400 per month which is an awful lot at least I would be able to pay my council tax which I cant as it stands,

 

Hello again Shine...

 

It's hard to try and support someone from a distance, but we are here for you and will try and do what we can to help you find a way forward with this.

 

Do you mean that you would be £400 a month better off if you didn't have lodgers?

[PriorityOne]

Ok... just re-read... you meant that you'd be £400 a month better off paying an interest only mortgage....

 

Did you approach the lender in writing about an interest-only mortgage, or was this said to you during discussions on the 'phone? If it was in writing, who did your letter go to? Was it anyone in particular?

 

I'm thinking of drafting a letter between us along the lines of paying an interest-only mortgage until you're on your feet or as Jansus said, allowing you the option of remaining in the house until it's sold. It might be worth another shot.

 

Without going into too much detail, I once had the Branch Manager of a building society go to a board meeting on my behalf as part of negotiations I was trying to arrange at the time.... and they were approved. Sometimes, you need to go to the top.... is what I'm thinking.

 

What do you think?

 

[Shineupon128]

That is one thing I have let myself down on, not putting things in writing, but I did request this by fax and they replied (not in writing) saying they wouldn't do it because of the negative equity, although they did say that it was done in exceptional circumstances....I had to send off my evidence of my income i.e Original copy's of the child benefit letter and tax credit letter stating the amount of income to which they sent back still saying they wouldn't do it....

I have literally gone down every avenue I can..

I have had an insight to where the money has gone with one of my lodgers today he has kindly has paid his car insurance, the same as the other lodger, but how he can pay a £1254 car insurance bill whilst on the dole is beyond me, but saying that that is where the money has gone for my rent...what the heck do housing benefits think they are doing paying money directly to claimants instead of the landlords, when people are on jsa they will almost certainly have money problems and rent although should be the first thing that is paid is not, they just house hop getting free board and lodgings along the way! not giving a thought to the fact that people rent out rooms in the first place because they need the money....so great now I have the extra bills they have created, lost my single person discount on council tax, all in all it has probably cost me over £800 per lodger, in other words I have been thoroughly ripped off........

I have spoken to the solicitors I paid today about handing the keys back aparently the voluntary repossession team are going to get back in touch with me with a form or something, I have managed to pay this months money but no way can I make next months and I have risked enough not paying council tax and when I have spoken to the utilities to have meters fitted that will make things even worse...Iam getting rid of the lodgers as I am not a charity, they will both find their belongings out on the front lawn on Monday at least I can get the single person discount back, that should help some and I am going to have to ask counciltax to spread the payments over a longer period, at the minute it is spread over 12 months but I am hoping they will spread it longer, although unlikely and even if they did I cant pay them in the first instance cos that is swollowed by mortgage payments... the way I feel right now is I would top myself if I didn't have the babies, it seems whatever I try and do comes to nothing or makes me worse off, the only outcome I can see in all this is me living in a bus shelter and the kids in care!!!!!

My head feels like a washing machine and I just can't switch it off!!!!!

 

The idea of going to the top is worth trying I have tried everything else.

I am stopping speaking to anyone and will converse with all companies via letter and insist all correspondence is done this way, which should have been the first thing I did anyway....I am going to crack on with these letters...

[PriorityOne]

Ok... we have hope then.

 

A letter needs to go to the MD of the mortgage company. If you don't know his/her name, then please 'phone them on Monday and get it. In the meantime, if you'd like to draft a letter up and copy/paste it on here, I'll have a look for and edit it, if necessary. It then needs to go off by rec. delivery. Whatever you do, don't have anything to do with anyone over the 'phone any more, if that's been going on as much as you suggest it has.... because it will get you absolutely nowhere. Negotiations cannot take place over the 'phone.

 

It looks like you'd be better off without your lodgers... and once they're gone, it also might be a good idea to re-check your position re. Benefits. I know you have another property, but there may be something you could get because of the twins.

 

I always thought Housing Benefit was paid directly to landlords. When I was renting, mine always was.... but I seem to recall something about having the choice whether it was paid directly or not. I'm not sure if this is still the case now, but it may explain why it wasn't coming to you directly. If you get lodgers again, make some enquiries about this because it must come to you directly...

 

I really can empathise with your despair. My daughter (3 years old at the time) was the only reason why I carried on years ago. Life is cruel at times.... and I've never forgotten it.

 

[jansus]

This is really out of my comfort area because of the other property being involved and I guess that is why you do not get help with the interest on the mortgage.

 

I agree with the post above in that my initial reaction was to write a letter to the lender refrring to the possession protocol and ask them for say one year on interest only to try and sort out your position.

 

You have two offers of help with the letter if you want.

 

I still think that because you have th eother property you are going to have problems getting help as your other property will count as an asset although as you say it is only just paying for itsef - also you have to consider what you will do if the property need maintainance work doing when you will not have the funds

 

If you can sell the house rather than hand in the keys PLEASE try that because you will still be responsible for any shortfall and it will be LARGER if the house is empty and it goes to auction. If you stay in the house while it is sold at least it may give you time to sort out accomodation.

 

 

I think I would think about selling both properties and then I bet you would be entitled to more help and you may have less worries all round.

If the court sees that you are making every attempt to put things right then they may be sympathetic and take into account the case law to let you stay in the house.

 

 

www.entitledto.co.uk

[PriorityOne]

It's been a while Shineupon.... any update on this?