How did people become mortgage prisoners?

While it may seem hard to believe, the main principle underpinning the current situation is a sensible one, as it's rooted in more responsible lending ultimately to protect customers from getting into unmanageable debt. After the financial crash in 2008, mortgage lending rules were tightened. Suddenly homeowners, who successfully applied for and were granted mortgages under the old rules, now didn't pass under the new ones. So when they tried to switch to new lenders – even if they were up-to-date with all their payments – the tighter rules prevented them from doing so. To make matters worse, the majority of these homeowners had mortgages with Northern Rock and Bradford & Bingley. After these lenders collapsed and were taken over by the Government, their loan books were sold on to unregulated entities, for example, private equity firms that became de facto mortgage providers EVEN though they were not authorised to lend or provide services or other products – these are also known as "closed-book" firms. Regulated, active lenders can offer new deals without going through a standard affordability assessment, but the closure of the lender – and the subsequent sale of the mortgage book – meant that customers didn't have the option of a new deal. So unless they happened to meet the tougher affordability rules and could switch elsewhere, these homeowners were now trapped on their lenders' reversion rates – often referred to as standard variable rates or SVRs – which are what most borrowers end up on after the end of an incentive period such as a two-year fix or two-year discounted variable rate. But they're often expensive. Usually homeowners remortgage to another deal to avoid paying over the odds. This is not an option for mortgage prisoners who typically end up paying £1,000s – and occasionally even £10,000s – more every year than similar mortgage customers with mainstream lenders.

Why being stuck on your mortgage is so bad

In normal circumstances, if you are unhappy with a rate, service or the terms of your mortgage deal, you would have the option to apply to switch to a new lender or transfer to a different product (while you can do it in the middle of the deal, there are hefty charges for doing so, so you typically have to wait until your deal ends). But if you're a mortgage prisoner, the new stricter affordability rules mean you're stuck with whatever terms, rates or service your existing lender offers you. This can result in years (some have been trapped for over a decade) of sky-high rates with no option but to pay – or lose your home. Here's an example: - Nelly isn't a mortgage prisoner. She owns 25% of the equity in her home and has a £150,000 loan. She has access to a two-year fixed-rate at 5%, amounting to £877/month. If she remortgaged to similar deals over the lifetime of her 25-year mortgage, the total interest at the end would come to £113,000. - Mark is a mortgage prisoner. He has the same amount of equity as the above example. But he ends up paying £1,108/month on a rate of 7.5%, which he's stuck on. The total interest after 25 years would come to £183,000. Result. £183,000 (Mark Mortgage Prisoner) - £113,000 (Nelly Not-a-Mortgage-Prisoner) = £70,000. This means Mark Mortgage Prisoner could end up paying significantly more interest compared to Nelly Not-a-Mortgage-Prisoner during the lifetime of the mortgage.

I am behind with my mortgage payments, am I a mortgage prisoner?

The FCA is clear that homeowners who are behind with their payments are NOT mortgage prisoners. Its stance is grounded in the fact that through being in payment difficulties you are signalling a need for more considered and tailored support than just a product switch. However, at MSE we believe you CAN still be a mortgage prisoner. This is because thousands of genuine mortgage prisoners have been trapped for so long that it's almost inevitable that some will be in arrears precisely because they've had to pay over the odds for so long. So when we talk about helping mortgage prisoners, we include people who've missed payments. But the reality is that all lenders must see evidence of timely payments, and they will usually not offer customers who are in payment shortfall a new deal.

I'm a mortgage prisoner – what can I do?

100,000s unfairly trapped, yet there's help for some (but not all)

Kit Sproson

Updated 11 March 2024

Mortgage prisoners are homeowners who typically took out a mortgage before 2008, when lending rules were more relaxed. They're now trapped on pricey mortgage deals unable to switch to cheaper ones, mainly because they don't pass current strict affordability tests. With some paying interest rates as high as 9%, the picture is bleak. This guide has things to try if you can't easily switch mortgage.

We believe mortgage prisoners deserve better. We've been campaigning on this desperate issue for years. In 2023, a landmark report – commissioned by MoneySavingExpert.com and funded by Martin Lewis – set out a number of costed solutions to the mortgage prisoner nightmare. You can read more about this significant step in MSE's long fight to help mortgage prisoners.

What is a mortgage prisoner?

After the financial crash in 2008, mortgage lending rules were tightened. Suddenly, homeowners who successfully applied for and were granted mortgages under the old rules, now didn't pass under the new ones. So when they tried to switch to cheaper deals with new lenders, the new rules prevented them from doing so. As a result, many are stuck on uncompetitive rates and are being told: "You can't afford a cheaper deal".

MSE estimates that there could be up to 200,000 mortgage prisoners in the UK. These are all borrowers in 'closed book' mortgages with inactive firms – in other words, a firm that is no longer lending to new customers. Of this group, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) suggests that around a third "should" be able to switch – though the regulator can't confirm this with certainty.

If you're currently in a closed book mortgage with an inactive lender, it doesn't mean you're definitely stuck – as there might be options available to you. See the section below on updated affordability rules that have helped some to switch deals.

Yet a large number of borrowers remain trapped, unable to get cheaper mortgage deals. With mortgage rates having increased in recent years and the cost of living crisis ongoing, more urgent action is needed to help them than ever before.

We keep our estimate of the number of mortgage prisoners in the UK under review based on the latest data we have.

Not sure if you're a mortgage prisoner? Two questions to ask

1. Did you purchase your home, or remortgage it before the introduction of the stricter affordability rules in 2014?

2. Have you been told in the past you can't switch to a more competitive, cheaper deal?

If the answer to both of these questions is 'yes', you're likely to be a mortgage prisoner.

I am trapped in my home that has unsafe cladding – am I a mortgage prisoner?

Many people are currently living in flats with potentially unsafe cladding, which have become 'unmortgageable'. This is a huge problem that also needs rapid attention in order to fix it.

However, for the purposes of this guide, we are addressing homeowners who can't switch to a new mortgage because they don't meet the stricter affordability requirements.

If you've been affected by unsafe cladding, the Local Government Association has released a comprehensive guide for councils on what the issues are and what help is available. There are also numerous action groups, including the UK Cladding Action Group, which is a nationwide group campaigning to help those living in unsafe homes.

Most mortgage prisoners are trapped, but some have options?

Right now, for the vast majority of mortgage prisoners there's currently NO HELP. And with the interest rates they're paying higher than ever (for some as high as 9%), the outlook has grown bleaker. That's why we'll continue to campaign hard for extra measures.

BUT not every mortgage prisoner is in the same situation. In fact, some homeowners, are not strictly 'imprisoned' at all, and do have options available to them, thanks to some rule changes. Depending on what type of lender you have, you might have a few options.

Here are the four available options and how to pinpoint if you're one of the lucky few who can do something NOW:

1. Switch to a new lender that chooses to 'relax the rules'

Revised provisions allow lenders to carry out a 'modified affordability assessment'. This means lenders are allowed to waive some of the strict checks – if they choose to. In other words, some mortgage prisoners are able to switch to a new lender.

Who can get it? This option is theoretically open to all, BUT because it's the lender's choice whether it uses it, many mortgage prisoners – especially those in negative equity, with interest-only deals or very little equity in their homes – will find they won't get it.

Here are the criteria lenders typically use to decide whether they will accept your mortgage application (it varies from lender to lender, but some of it is the same everywhere because it's set by the regulator):

Minimum of five years remaining on the mortgage.
Remaining mortgage sum of at least £50,000.
Up to date with your mortgage payments, and have been for at least 12 months.
Do not want to borrow more.
A maximum LTV (loan to value) typically of no more than 75%.
A clear repayment plan if you are on, and want to remain on, an interest-only mortgage.

To find out whether or not you might be accepted under the new rules, you can try MoneyHelper's mortgage prisoner eligibility tool.

How do I switch to a new lender? The best way is to get advice from a broker as they will be able to assess your chances using your specific circumstances. Our Cheap mortgage finding guide can help you find a broker, plus MoneyHelper has published a downloadable PDF list of brokers who have said they will help mortgage prisoners. The list's broken down by different areas of the UK, though you don't usually need to use a broker that's local to you.

The lenders in the table below say they have products to help mortgage prisoners, so make sure to ask your broker about them. Other lenders may also offer deals to mortgage prisoners, but on a more 'ad hoc' basis – and this would be where the broker's expert knowledge would come in.

Which lenders have products to help mortgage prisoners?

Lender	Rate	Only available via a broker	Max LTV
NatWest	Access to ALL NatWest's remortgage deals	Yes	No max LTV confirmed
Halifax	Access to ALL Halifax's remortgage deals	Yes	Max 75% LTV
Santander	Access to ALL Santander's remortgage deals	Yes	Max 70% LTV interest-only, max 90% LTV repayment

2. Switch to a cheaper deal with your current lender

A few years back, the majority of UK mortgage lenders agreed to help existing borrowers who are on standard variable rates and up-to-date with their repayments. So, if your mortgage is with a lender that's currently offering new deals – and you've not missed any payments – you should be able to ask to switch rate.

The key caveat here though is that it has to be a like-for-like mortgage, in other words, no extra borrowing and on the same property.

Getting a new deal from your current lender is known as a 'product transfer' (remortgaging being where you apply for a new deal from a different lender entirely).

Who can get it? You can apply for a product transfer if your lender currently offers new mortgages to homebuyers. You'll need to be up to date with your repayments, and not after increased borrowing or a change of property.

How do I do it? The first thing to do is ask if your lender is "active in the mortgage market". Then speak to your lender about switching to a cheaper deal via a product transfer.

A broker can also advise you on your individual circumstances – even if you can switch to a cheaper deal via a product transfer, switching lenders might be even better for you. Read our Cheap mortgage finding guide for help on how to find a broker. MoneyHelper has published a list of brokers who have said they will help mortgage prisoners.

3. Switch to a cheaper deal with a lender that is part of the same group as your lender

Further FCA regulations could help some mortgage prisoners with inactive lenders to switch to a cheaper deal with an active lender that is part of the same financial group as their existing lender.

Who can get it? Frustratingly, there is no simple way for you to check if your lender is part of a wider group. Smaller lenders are bought up by bigger institutions all the time. This is an instance where speaking to a broker might help clear things up.

How do I do it? The first thing to do is find a broker who can help you work out if your lender is part of a wider group, plus they will be able to advise you on your specific circumstances. Read our Cheap mortgage finding guide for help on how to find a broker. MoneyHelper has published a list of brokers who have said they will help mortgage prisoners.

Need to know: Unfortunately, while the rules essentially allow lenders to be more flexible if they want to, the regulator cannot force them to accept customers.

We've already heard some success stories

Since our campaigning began, some mortgage prisoners have escaped to much cheaper deals – and one of the first homeowners to do so has told us he's saving almost £500 each month as a result.

Maurice Latimer (pictured), transferred to a new mortgage with West Brom in 2021 and slashed his interest rate from 4.59% to just 1.84%, on a two-year fixed-rate interest-only deal. As a result, his monthly payments were halved overnight, from £886 to just £401 a month – a massive £485/month saving.

Maurice, who spoke to MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis about mortgage prisoner policy and is part of the UK Mortgage Prisoners Facebook group, took out an interest-only mortgage with Northern Rock in 2001. Read the full MSE News story.

Please note that this case study switched mortgages before interest rates shot up in 2022.

4. Check if you're able to take legal action

Law firm Harcus Parker has launched legal action against TSB on behalf of mortgage prisoners whose mortgages are (or were) managed by the lender's 'Whistletree' brand. Previously these home loans were owned by the now defunct Northern Rock.

According to the lawsuit, affected homeowners have been overcharged about £50,000 each in interest by TSB, a result of being forced on to a more expensive rate than other borrowers. Harcus Parker is now encouraging any mortgage prisoner whose mortgage is – or ever has been – managed by Whistletree to join the group action.

Importantly, this is not us saying you should do this. There are pros and cons to taking part – such as there being no guarantee of the lawsuit winning. You need to consider these carefully before signing up.

For full details, such as who can take part and the risks involved, see our TSB legal action MSE News story.

Circumstances that could boost your chances to switch to a better deal

Getting a new mortgage deal essentially involves lenders choosing whether or not they'd like you as a customer, though they are typically reluctant to take on mortgage prisoners as new customers.

However there are some circumstances that might boost your chances of getting a better deal:

1. Moving to a repayment deal from interest-only

If you're on an interest-only mortgage, new lenders will expect you to have a repayment plan (and proof of it) to clear the outstanding mortgage at the end of its term. Without this, it is very unlikely that you will be able to benefit from new switching options.

What can I do to improve my chances? Moving from an interest-only deal to a repayment deal is something to consider. The ability to do so depends on your age (moving to repayment deals can add many years on to the mortgage's term, so a 30-year-old is more likely to be approved than someone already in their 50s or 60s), and the remaining length of your current term – the nearer your term's end, the trickier it is.

Some lenders may be able to offer options that include switching part of your mortgage to repayment, or by arranging to make overpayments to reduce the overall debt. These will increase your monthly payments, but you'll be chipping away at the overall debt which could make it easier to remortgage in the future. A broker can help you identify if this is right – or possible – for you.

2. Watch out for 'negative equity'

If the value of your home has gone down since you purchased it, you could be in what is called "negative equity". This means that the amount you owe to the bank is more than the current value of your home.

Negative equity might reduce other lenders' appetite to offer you a deal, but it should not close the door on a product transfer with your current lender if one is available. So this is worth bearing in mind if you are with an active lender or an inactive lender that is part of an active group – though the rates may not be as competitive as those not in negative equity.

This has been a particular issue for homeowners in Northern Ireland. A large number of interest-only mortgages awarded in Northern Ireland meant that after the property crash in 2007/08 a lot of homeowners found themselves in negative equity.

What can I do to improve my chances? If you're in this situation, it is often helpful to speak to a broker who will advise you on your individual circumstances.

3. Keep up to date with your payments

The harsh reality is that to secure a new affordable rate, lenders need to see evidence of a good credit history, and the way to show this is a minimum of 12 months' worth of on-time payments.

What can I do to improve my chances? You MUST do everything you can to get up to date with your payments and remain out of arrears for 12 months before you can start looking at options.

4. Consider debt consolidation if you have unsecured debt bundled with your mortgage

Rough estimates suggest there are at least 17,000 mortgage prisoners who have unsecured debt bundled in with their mortgage. These are called "Together Loans" and were offered by Northern Rock. These loans meant that sometimes customers had borrowed up to 125% of their property's value.

Crucially, both these loans were at the same rate and were contractually linked. Changing lenders to a new, cheaper mortgage breaks the link, triggering a large loan increase on the rate.

Modified affordability assessment allows unsecured loans to be consolidated, but many "Together" customers do not qualify.

What can I do to improve my chances? The best advice is to approach a broker who has expertise in debt consolidation. If you're not sure where to start you can approach StepChange, which has a subsidiary firm called StepChange Financial Solutions that has mortgage advisors with expertise in debt consolidation.

What's it like being a mortgage prisoner?

Most mortgage prisoners are paying their lender's standard variable rate (SVR). This is the rate you end up on if you don't remortgage after your introductory or fixed-rate deal finishes.

Right now, mortgage prisoner SVRs are typically between 7.5% and 8.5% – significantly higher than the cheapest fixed-rate deals out there. What's more, as SVRs are variable deals (meaning the interest rate can go up or down) mortgage prisoners face the continual worry of their deal getting even more expensive – for example, in the event the Bank of England's base rate was to go up (most SVRs move roughly in line with the base rate).

To make matters even worse, the bulk of mortgage prisoners are also 'closed book' customers. This means their lender either cannot or chooses not to offer new mortgage products, so their SVR is often higher than a typical SVR on the wider market.

As a result, a mortgage prisoner can end up paying £10,000s more than non-mortgage prisoners over the lifetime of their mortgage.

For all mortgage prisoners, the situation has been serious for a long time already, but for many it's now getting more critical with each passing month. You can read first-hand about the devastating impact of base rate rises on some of these mortgage prisoners in our news story.

Stories from mortgage prisoners

To better understand what it feels like to be a mortgage prisoner, MSE spoke to dozens of them. Here's what a few had to say (because of the sensitive nature of their situation, these responses are anonymous):

Being a mortgage prisoner has been hell to me, you worry about losing your home, you can't plan on starting a family and moving forward with your life. The whole experience affects your mental wellbeing and this has got to stop.

It is a rock around my neck. It cannot be fair or reasonable to transfer a mortgage to an inactive lender, hike up the SVR and make it impossible... to find another deal.

It makes me depressed – I feel I have let my family down immensely – self-loathing and days of complete darkness. I have been on and off medication for 10 years. Being a mortgage prisoner has taken away so much of my inner being... I am not the person I was – I am beat.

MSE's long fight to help mortgage prisoners

MoneySavingExpert.com believes mortgage prisoners deserve better. That's why we have been campaigning to help the estimated up to 200,000 mortgage prisoners for the past six years.

In the early days, MSE founder Martin Lewis was one of the only public figures fighting for justice. In 2015 he met key figures in the EU, the Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) – the organisations responsible for UK mortgage regulations – to convince them that this was indeed a problem.

Since then there has been some change, including good news for a small fraction of mortgage prisoners, when in 2019 the FCA removed some barriers that stood in the way of these mortgage prisoners accessing a cheaper deal.

Yet this only helped a fraction of the mortgage prisoners out there, with thousands still trapped – so our fight has continued.

In November 2020, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) released a report – commissioned by MSE and funded by Martin Lewis – showing the urgent and necessary steps which could be taken to release more mortgage prisoners from their financial cells.

Most recently, in March 2023, LSE published a further landmark report – again commissioned by MSE and funded by Martin Lewis – which sets out a number of proposed costed solutions to the mortgage prisoner nightmare.

The Economic Secretary to the Treasury has promised to look in to these latest proposals.

Here is MSE founder Martin Lewis explaining why MPs must look at the recommendations set out in the research by LSE.

Martin describes the mortgage prisoner problem to the Treasury Select Committee

Embedded YouTube Video

You can turn on subtitles by clicking the closed captions icon at the bottom right of the video.

Further help for mortgage prisoners

The stress of being a mortgage prisoner can impact on nearly every other aspect of your life. Mortgage prisoners are more likely to have general debt problems or be in arrears, contributing to higher rates of physical and mental health problems.

Online support

If you're a mortgage prisoner, you are not alone. In fact there are thousands in your shoes right now. You can find emotional and practical support and tips in online groups that are free to join. Just remember, what might feel right and be right for one person is not necessarily right for you, so don't feel pressured to do anything or take any steps because others are doing so.

Facebook group for mortgage prisoners

UK Mortgage Prisoners is an active group of about 3,600 members from all over the UK. It's for anyone who thinks they may be a 'Mortgage Prisoner' – trapped on a high SVR and, often through no fault of their own, unable to change providers.

For the security of members, they ask only that you answer two simple questions about your circumstances before being accepted or they will not be able to approve your request.

The discussions are lively and range from talking about lenders, brokers and Government regulations to general mental health support and activism, but as it's not affiliated in any way with MSE, we cannot take responsibility for any of its content. You can join for free here.

If you're not on social media, the group also has specific website where they share their latest news and updates.

Free debt help from charities

The aim is to find non-profit debt counselling help. In other words, a one-to-one session with someone paid to help you, not to make money out of you. Be careful not to confuse this with 'free help' – many commercial companies say they're free as you're not charged directly, but you'll still pay somehow. Also avoid any debt help or loan consolidation companies that advertise on TV or in some newspapers. Their job is to make money out of you, plain and simple.

Three organisations to contact for advice:

Citizens Advice
Full debt and consumer advice service. Many bureaux have specialist caseworkers to deal with any type of debt, including repossessions and negotiation with creditors.

Find your nearest CA centre
Telephone: 0800 144 8848 (Eng) or 0800 702 2020 (Wal)
Opening times: Different for each bureau
Citizens Advice Northern Ireland is separate but offers the same service.

StepChange Debt Charity
A full debt help service is available across the UK. Online support is also available via its debt advice tool, where you can create a budget and get a personal action plan with practical next steps.

Telephone: 0800 138 1111
Opening times: Mon to Fri 8am to 8pm, Sat 8am to 4pm

National Debtline
National Debtline provides free advice and resources to help people deal with their debts. Advice is available over the phone, online and via webchat.

Telephone: 0808 808 4000
Opening times: Mon to Fri 9am to 8pm, Sat 9.30am to 1pm

Mortgage prisoners FAQs

How did people become mortgage prisoners?

While it may seem hard to believe, the main principle underpinning the current situation is a sensible one, as it's rooted in more responsible lending ultimately to protect customers from getting into unmanageable debt.

After the financial crash in 2008, mortgage lending rules were tightened. Suddenly homeowners, who successfully applied for and were granted mortgages under the old rules, now didn't pass under the new ones. So when they tried to switch to new lenders – even if they were up-to-date with all their payments – the tighter rules prevented them from doing so.

To make matters worse, the majority of these homeowners had mortgages with Northern Rock and Bradford & Bingley. After these lenders collapsed and were taken over by the Government, their loan books were sold on to unregulated entities, for example, private equity firms that became de facto mortgage providers EVEN though they were not authorised to lend or provide services or other products – these are also known as "closed-book" firms.

Regulated, active lenders can offer new deals without going through a standard affordability assessment, but the closure of the lender – and the subsequent sale of the mortgage book – meant that customers didn't have the option of a new deal.

So unless they happened to meet the tougher affordability rules and could switch elsewhere, these homeowners were now trapped on their lenders' reversion rates – often referred to as standard variable rates or SVRs – which are what most borrowers end up on after the end of an incentive period such as a two-year fix or two-year discounted variable rate.

But they're often expensive. Usually homeowners remortgage to another deal to avoid paying over the odds. This is not an option for mortgage prisoners who typically end up paying £1,000s – and occasionally even £10,000s – more every year than similar mortgage customers with mainstream lenders.
Why being stuck on your mortgage is so bad

In normal circumstances, if you are unhappy with a rate, service or the terms of your mortgage deal, you would have the option to apply to switch to a new lender or transfer to a different product (while you can do it in the middle of the deal, there are hefty charges for doing so, so you typically have to wait until your deal ends).

But if you're a mortgage prisoner, the new stricter affordability rules mean you're stuck with whatever terms, rates or service your existing lender offers you. This can result in years (some have been trapped for over a decade) of sky-high rates with no option but to pay – or lose your home.

Here's an example:

- Nelly isn't a mortgage prisoner. She owns 25% of the equity in her home and has a £150,000 loan. She has access to a two-year fixed-rate at 5%, amounting to £877/month. If she remortgaged to similar deals over the lifetime of her 25-year mortgage, the total interest at the end would come to £113,000.

- Mark is a mortgage prisoner. He has the same amount of equity as the above example. But he ends up paying £1,108/month on a rate of 7.5%, which he's stuck on. The total interest after 25 years would come to £183,000.

Result. £183,000 (Mark Mortgage Prisoner) - £113,000 (Nelly Not-a-Mortgage-Prisoner) = £70,000. This means Mark Mortgage Prisoner could end up paying significantly more interest compared to Nelly Not-a-Mortgage-Prisoner during the lifetime of the mortgage.
I am behind with my mortgage payments, am I a mortgage prisoner?

The FCA is clear that homeowners who are behind with their payments are NOT mortgage prisoners. Its stance is grounded in the fact that through being in payment difficulties you are signalling a need for more considered and tailored support than just a product switch.

However, at MSE we believe you CAN still be a mortgage prisoner. This is because thousands of genuine mortgage prisoners have been trapped for so long that it's almost inevitable that some will be in arrears precisely because they've had to pay over the odds for so long.

So when we talk about helping mortgage prisoners, we include people who've missed payments.

But the reality is that all lenders must see evidence of timely payments, and they will usually not offer customers who are in payment shortfall a new deal.

This is a complex area, so the guide is necessarily a long read to cover all the angles. Please let us know if there's something you'd like us to add or change, plus tell us your experiences in the Mortgage prisoners – what to do if you're trapped forum discussion.

Tip Email

FREE weekly MoneySaving email

For all the latest deals, guides and loopholes simply sign up today - it’s spam free!

Show less

MSE Forum

Have your say in our forum!

Mortgage prisoners guide

Spotted out of date info/broken links? Email: brokenlink@moneysavingexpert.com

MSE tools & calculators

Clever ways to calculate your finances

Credit Card Eligibility

See which cards are likely to accept you

Tool

Loans Eligibility

See which loans you've the best chance of getting

Tool

MSE App

Get MSE on your Apple or Android phone

Tool

Broadband Unbundled

Compare broadband deals & save

Tool

Mortgage best buys

Compares thousands of mortgages

Tool

Mortgage Calculator

Eight calcs for all your mortgage sums

Tool

Tools and calculators

In this guide

In this guide

Mortgage repayment help

Mortgage arrears

FREE weekly MoneySaving email

I'm a mortgage prisoner – what can I do?

100,000s unfairly trapped, yet there's help for some (but not all)

In this guide

In this guide

What is a mortgage prisoner?

Not sure if you're a mortgage prisoner? Two questions to ask

I am trapped in my home that has unsafe cladding – am I a mortgage prisoner?

Most mortgage prisoners are trapped, but some have options?

1. Switch to a new lender that chooses to 'relax the rules'

Which lenders have products to help mortgage prisoners?

2. Switch to a cheaper deal with your current lender