Mortgage helpline is inundated

Last Modified: 31 Jan 2008
Source: PA News

Thousands of desperate homeowners are flooding a housing charity with calls for help as many more struggle to repay mortgages.

Shelter Scotland said their website was being overwhelmed by a huge volume of traffic, and called on the Scottish Government to offer more support to indebted households.

An increasing number are losing their homes due to higher house prices, rising interest rates and bills, as well as irresponsible mortgage lending, the charity said.

This led to 913 applications to be classified as homeless in Scotland last year because of mortgage defaults, a 14% jump from the previous year.

The number of repossession orders issued by courts is also increasing steadily, and had pushed through the 4,000 mark north of the border in 2006.

Shelter Scotland has urged the Scottish Government to take action to repair "the broken state safety net" that is failing to save many from destitution.

James Jopling, head of campaigns, said: "There is strong evidence to suggest that mortgage default and repossessions in Scotland are an increasing problem for many people.

"Even just seeing a 42% increase in traffic to our website is an indicator people are already seeking help.

"With repossessions set to rise this year, we worry that, even though we provide advice online, on the phone, and in person, that we haven't got the resources to help everyone."

Shelter's web pages offering advice on repossession were visited nearly 25,000 times last year, he added.

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