| This article will outline the steps you can take to | | | | Bailiffs have the power to force their way into |
| stop your home being repossessed. It assumes | | | | your home if they have to so you need to move |
| that notice of eviction has been issued by the | | | | out before this date if you have not been able to |
| court bailiffs giving a date and when eviction will | | | | stop the eviction. If they arrive when you are |
| occur. If you are not sure if you are at this stage | | | | there you will have very little time to pack up |
| please contact the national debt helpline. | | | | your belongings and will only be able to return to |
| If you have been given a notice of eviction you | | | | pack up a couple of weeks later. You will then |
| may be able to stop this, but you must act | | | | have to get the lenders permission to enter the |
| quickly. | | | | property again in the future and arrange to |
| Which forms you need to fill out | | | | remove your furniture. Some lenders try to |
| If you need more time to sell, to find somewhere | | | | arguethat they can keep any belongings left in the |
| else to live, or want to make a revised offer to | | | | house. It is safer so remove all that you can |
| pay the arrears by monthly instalments you | | | | before the eviction date. |
| should apply for the warrant to be suspended on | | | | After your eviction your lender will still add |
| court form N244.You can pick up this form from | | | | interest to your mortgage until the property is |
| your local county court. | | | | sold. They are obliged by FSA rules to sell your |
| When you fill in the N244 form remember to: | | | | home fast for the best price but in reality their |
| * Write the claim number of the case; | | | | need to get a quick sale to recover their money |
| * Write the warrant number; | | | | means that it is likely to sell a lot lower than the |
| * Include the reason you have not been able to | | | | price you could receive on the open market. They |
| pay and your new offer (in part A on the front | | | | may sell it anything from 15% - 40% below the |
| of the form); | | | | market value of the property. |
| * Tick the box in part B saying you rely on | | | | The proceeds from the sale are used to pay off |
| evidence in part C; | | | | the court costs, the estate agents and solicitors |
| * Attach your personal budget or write it out on | | | | bills, the mortgage and any second or third |
| the form in in part C on the back of the form; | | | | mortgages. The lender must tell you in writing |
| * Sign the statement of truth at the end of the | | | | how the money has been spent. |
| form. | | | | When will the nightmare end? |
| Do this as soon as possible to allow the court | | | | They must send you any money which is left |
| time to arrange a hearing. | | | | over but if not enough was raised on the sale of |
| The court will set a date for a hearing, usually | | | | the property to pay off all secured debts and |
| before the eviction date. It is imperative you go | | | | costs you will still owe money to the lender. Due |
| to this hearing or the court is unlikely to suspend | | | | to repossessed properties being sold below their |
| the warrant. | | | | market value this is all to common unfortunately. |
| If any further warrants are issued at this hearing | | | | You do not want to get to this situation so take |
| you may still be able to ask the court to suspend | | | | action as soon as possible by trying to pay off |
| them (for example, to give you time to find | | | | the arrears, selling your property before you get |
| somewhere else to live). If all your efforts to | | | | evicted (so you get a better price) or selling and |
| stay in the property fail, you will be given an | | | | renting back your property so you can stay |
| eviction date. | | | | there. |
| When the bailiffs come | | | | |