Help with housing

• Are you having difficulty affording your mortgage payments?
• Are you looking for help to pay your mortgage?
• Is your lender trying to repossess your home?
• Are you looking for help and advice on housing?
• Are you a landlord or looking for a property to let?

Are you having difficulty affording your mortgage payments?

Talk to your lender

Don't ignore any payment problems; pay what you can and contact your lender as soon as you start having payment problems. There are lots of options available for you to discuss with your lender, including reducing your payments or charging interest only for a set period, giving you a payment holiday or extending your mortgage term.

Major lenders have agreed to wait at least three months before taking repossession action and the Civil Justice Council says repossession should be a last resort. The law also says lenders must treat you fairly and take your circumstances into account.

The government is introducing a Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme, which will help people suffering a temporary loss of income to stay in their homes. It will allow you to defer a proportion of the interest payments on your mortgage for up to two years. Talk to your lender for further details.

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Are you looking for help to pay your mortgage?

Mortgage Protection Insurance

If you've lost your job or you're too ill to work, check whether you have mortgage protection insurance to cover your payments. The payments may not start straight away so contact your insurer as soon as possible.

Income Support

If you are on a low income and have a mortgage or loan taken out to buy your home, income support may help you with the interest payments after you have been receiving it for 13 weeks.

Other Benefits

Make sure you claim all the benefits you are entitled to such as: working tax credit, child tax credit or council tax benefit.

For information on how to apply for income support or other benefits please contact Jobcentre Plus.

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Is your lender trying to repossess your home?

If your lender is taking possession proceedings get financial advice immediately from one of the agencies listed below. If there is no time for this always attend the court hearing and ask to see the duty solicitor who will represent you.

The are two new national schemes to help households threatened with repossession:

Shared equity - where a Housing Association provides an equity loan enabling the mortgage payments to be reduced

Government mortgage to rent - where a Housing Association buys your property and rents it to you at a rent you can afford

There are a number of eligibility criteria for these schemes and Westminster's Housing Options Service will be able to advise you if you qualify. Please visit www.westminster.gov.uk/housing/housingoptions/ for more information.

A number of private companies offer buy and rent back schemes where they buy your home and rent it back to you. The government's Mortgage to Rent Scheme offers more protection, so think carefully before you sign up to a private scheme and get advice from Shelter or Citizens Advice Bureau.

Westminster has a Repossession Prevention Fund which offers small interest free loans to eligible households facing repossession due to rent arrears.  For further information contact the Housing Options Service on 0207 641 1000.

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Are you looking for help and advice on housing?

Debt and housing advice from Westminster City Council

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Service can advise you on whether you are entitled to housing benefit, which helps with the cost of your rent, or council tax benefit, which pays some or all of your council tax if you are on a low income.

One Stop Services offer a range of information and advice including:

• Guidance on housing, including homelessness
• Application forms for free school meals
• Activities for children and child care
• Advice on council tax and business rates.

CityWest Homes manages the council's 22,000 homes. They offer support to tenants and lessees through local estate offices. Visit their website.

Housing Options Service provides advice and assistance to those threatened with homelessness. Visit the Housing Options Service web pages.

Housing Grants Service provides grants for residents who need support and financial assistance to live in a warm and safe home. Visit the housing grants web pages.

Rough Sleeping Team can help those who are sleeping on the streets through a range of building-based services. Visit the rough sleeping web pages.

Other sources of debt and housing advice

Citizens Advice Bureau will give you free, independent and confidential advice on mortgage arrears, rent arrears and repossession. Visit their website.

The Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) is a charity that provides free counselling and money management assistance to financially distressed families and individuals. Visit their website.

DirectGov provides information on how you can get help and support if you are homeless or face the prospect of losing your home. Visit their website.

Jobcentre Plus can tell you if you are eligible for any state benefits including help with your mortgage interest. Visit their website.

National Debtline provides a free, confidential service that gives independent advice about coping with debt. Visit their website.

The Pension Service provides advice on Pension Credit and other benefits you might be entitled to if you are a pensioner. Visit their website.

Shelter is a charity that provides information and advice on homelessness, eviction, repossession, paying for a home, finding a place to live, families and relationships. Visit their website.

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Are you a landlord or looking for a property to let?

CityWest Homes have launched a new professional lettings and property management service, CityWest Homes Residential. This markets available properties for leaseholders and offers landlords 24-hour online access to account statements, property management information, property marketing reports, and downloadable tenancy agreements and inventory reports. Visit www.cwhr.co.uk for more information.

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For more information or help, contact beattherecession@westminster.gov.uk