Mortgage payments

[fidji]

Hi everybody

I wonder if anybody can help me. I have a six month old baby and my partner has left us. I have been on maternity pay but I return to work on Monday part time. I get tax credits and council tax benefit.

I can afford to pay all my household bills, etc. The problem is that my ex-partner is refusing to pay the mortgage and I can't afford to pay it. All he says he will pay is the statutory minimum which won't make any difference to me, obviously, as they will deduct this off my tax credits.

I can't get housing benefit as I'm not renting and Income support won't pay the interest as I earn too much (!).

Is there any other benefit that I could claim or is there any way to get him to pay the mortgage. After all the house is still in both our names and it's still his investment. It's hardly likely that I could sell the house before they repossess it.

Any help would be great. Thanks

[sillygirl1]

As you have a small baby it is unlikely that the reposession will go ahead quickly, what you need to do is WRITE to the mortgage company explaining the situation, send in the birth certificate as well and explain that you are vulnerable.

You should get some housing help so go to your local CAB - again with a small child you are in a good position for them to offer more help than usual. Get help as early as possible as with the current credit crunch you don't know what the mortgage company's finances are like.

What company is your mortgage with anyway?

[fidji]

Thank you very much for that, it is very reassuring.

The first mortgage payment he is going to miss is due on Tuesday, so I will write to them this weekend.

The mortgage company is called Mortgage Agency Services Number Five, which isn't the company our mortgage advisor set us up with! The original company transfered our mortgage in September 2006.

Thanks again

[sillygirl1]

I haven't heard of that company - sounds as if it's been transferred to a satellite company for some reason.... If you jump now they can't jump first and it will put you in a better light if it does go to court.

[fidji]

I read a bit further and the company belongs to the Britannia Building Society.

Thanks for your help

[Weird Al Yankovic]

Originally Posted by sillygirl1

As you have a small baby it is unlikely that the reposession will go ahead quickly, what you need to do is WRITE to the mortgage company explaining the situation, send in the birth certificate as well and explain that you are vulnerable.

You should get some housing help so go to your local CAB - again with a small child you are in a good position for them to offer more help than usual. Get help as early as possible as with the current credit crunch you don't know what the mortgage company's finances are like.

What company is your mortgage with anyway?

This is good advice although I would raise a note of caution too.

The fact that the OP has a small baby would not necessarily stop the mortgagee from claiming possession. Only the court themselves would mitigate this.

The mortgagee are a commercial operation and some would not bat an eyelid. I know GE Money wouldn't for a fact!

The serious problem here is the apparent point blank refusal of the ex-partner to pay the mortgage.

I certainly would not tell the mortgagee this.

Good luck OP and I wish you well.

[RFC1872]

Originally Posted by fidji

Hi everybody

I can afford to pay all my household bills, etc. The problem is that my ex-partner is refusing to pay the mortgage and I can't afford to pay it. All he says he will pay is the statutory minimum which won't make any difference to me, obviously, as they will deduct this off my tax credits.

I can't get housing benefit as I'm not renting and Income support won't pay the interest as I earn too much (!).

Is there any other benefit that I could claim or is there any way to get him to pay the mortgage. After all the house is still in both our names and it's still his investment. It's hardly likely that I could sell the house before they repossess it.

Any help would be great. Thanks

Can I say that as far as can remember maintaince payments from an ex partner should not affect your tax credits. In fact I think you may get an increase if you were not getting the maximum due to your ex partners income being included in the tax credit calculations when he was staying with you. Can I suggest you phone your local authority Social Work Department and ask them to support you in getting welfare rights advice, etc. Or your local Citizens advice. Though I would recomend your local Social Work Services - good luck.