It might feel daunting to speak to your mortgage provider about the economic abuse you have experienced. But there may be things they can offer to support you.
If you are the sole homeowner, you may be struggling to make your mortgage payments because of the abuser’s behaviour. This may be because of the abuser not paying or making unreliable child maintenance payments.
If you and the abuser share a joint mortgage, the abuser might be exploiting the joint liability of the mortgage to stop you from making decisions that are in your best financial interests. They may also use the joint mortgage to prolong contact with you and to cause harm after separation.
Whether you have a joint mortgage with the abuser or have your own, your lender may be able to support you. If you decide to contact your mortgage provider, you could speak to them about:
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The mortgage lender should be able to send you copies of your statements so that you have a full picture of the situation.
The mortgage provider may be able to offer a few solutions to help you in the short term. This could include delaying interest payments or switching to a more competitive interest rate out the abuser’s consent to make payments more affordable
Many financial service providers have policies that allow people to have a payment deferral while things are particularly difficult. Find out if this is something they could offer you while assets are being divided or while you are taking the time to reach a place of safety.
You will still be charged extra interest if the lender agrees to a payment referral, and this could impact your credit score.
It is important for mortgage companies to be aware that it is common for financial proceedings to take a year or more in cases of economic abuse if the abuser deliberately delays the process.
The government Breathing Space scheme can help if you have missed mortgage payments. The Breathing Space scheme gives you 60 days to:
Breathing Space is not the same as a payment holiday. You will still need to make your regular monthly mortgage payments. It can also help with other debts, such as personal loans, credit cards and missed payments on utility bills.
When you are part of the scheme, your lender cannot:
You need to be referred to the scheme by a debt adviser. You can find information about debt advice here.
Mortgage providers can offer payment plans such as nil payment plans or reduced payment plans. These plans can help in the short term. However, payments not made will accrue as arrears on the account. They will also increase the interest in the short term.
Ask the mortgage provider if they can allow one party (you) to make decisions without the other’s consent if the decision would clearly be in the best financial interest of both mortgage holders. This could mean, for example, switching to a more competitive interest rate.
Many perpetrators of economic abuse refuse to pay their share of the mortgage. They sometimes do this to force the account into arrears and prompt repossession. This can even be in circumstances where the perpetrator still lives in the property you have had to leave.
If the abuser is refusing to pay their share of the mortgage, you can report this to the mortgage provider. There may be a way for them to actively pursue the perpetrator for their share of the payments.
With your agreement, you mortgage provider should consider whether to:
They should also allow you time to sell your home if you cannot come to a repayment arrangement.
Mortgage providers that have signed up to the Mortgage Charter can allow customers who are up to date on their mortgage payments to:
You can find more information on the Mortgage Charter here. This includes a list of firms who have signed up.
Mortgage providers must keep records of their contact with you including phone calls where arrears or charges are discussed. We have more information about mortgage arrears and repossession here.
Being in mortgage arrears can have a significant impact on your credit score. While it is rare for a bank or mortgage lender to do so, you can still ask if they would consider restoring your credit score to reflect that the debt or arrears were a result of the abuser’s behaviour and are not a reflection of your credit worthiness.
If you have a joint mortgage with the abuser, they are recorded as a ‘financial associate’ on your credit report. It can affect your credit score if they have bad credit history.
You can write to the credit reference agencies to ask for ‘disassociation’ from anyone you are no longer financially linked with, however you need to close any joint financial accounts first. We have more information on economic abuse and your credit report here.
If you have had to leave your home because your safety was at risk, you may be concerned about the abuser finding your new address. You mortgage provider should be able to support you with your safety.
If you left the home due to the risk of immediate danger, you may be using the address of a refuge or safe house with a PO Box. Your mortgage provider may agree to send letters to a bank branch or safe address.
If you have moved to a new address because of domestic abuse but still have a joint mortgage with the abuser, it will be vital for the mortgage provider to keep your new address details secure. Ask them to ensure that the abuser does not have access to your new address if your profiles are linked. They should be able to flag this on your account.
Last updated September 2024
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