The Government is to unveil a mortgage rescue scheme to help people facing repossession stay in their homes.
Under the scheme, vulnerable families who are no longer able to keep up with their mortgage repayments will be offered the chance to sell their home and rent it back, or to enter into a shared equity or shared ownership scheme on the property.
The move is one of a series of measures being announced to help hard-pressed homeowners and those struggling to get on to the property ladder in the current economic climate.
The Government is also introducing a shared equity scheme for first-time buyers and it is boosting the money available for affordable housing schemes.
Full details of the package will be announced by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Communities Secretary Hazel Blears later.
The initiative is part of a wider series of announcements which will be made in due course to help alleviate the pressure on consumers and the industry.
Recent figures show that the number of homes being repossessed hit their highest level for 12 years during the first half of the year, with 18,900 properties taken back by lenders, 48% more than during the same period of 2007.
The mortgage rescue scheme aims to help vulnerable families avoid repossession, specifically targeting those who would be eligible for homelessness assistance.
Under the plans, people facing repossession will be able to sell their home to a registered social landlord (RSL), who will clear the mortgage and then rent it back to them at a level they can afford.
Alternatively, an RSL will buy a share of the property, enabling the homeowner to repay some of their mortgage and a shared ownership lease will be issued on the property. In other cases, the RSL will provide an equity loan to help reduce the homeowner's mortgage repayments.
Under the scheme, vulnerable families who are no longer able to keep up with their mortgage repayments will be offered the chance to sell their home and rent it back, or to enter into a shared equity or shared ownership scheme on the property.
The move is one of a series of measures being announced to help hard-pressed homeowners and those struggling to get on to the property ladder in the current economic climate.
The Government is also introducing a shared equity scheme for first-time buyers and it is boosting the money available for affordable housing schemes.
Full details of the package will be announced by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Communities Secretary Hazel Blears later.
The initiative is part of a wider series of announcements which will be made in due course to help alleviate the pressure on consumers and the industry.
Recent figures show that the number of homes being repossessed hit their highest level for 12 years during the first half of the year, with 18,900 properties taken back by lenders, 48% more than during the same period of 2007.
The mortgage rescue scheme aims to help vulnerable families avoid repossession, specifically targeting those who would be eligible for homelessness assistance.
Under the plans, people facing repossession will be able to sell their home to a registered social landlord (RSL), who will clear the mortgage and then rent it back to them at a level they can afford.
Alternatively, an RSL will buy a share of the property, enabling the homeowner to repay some of their mortgage and a shared ownership lease will be issued on the property. In other cases, the RSL will provide an equity loan to help reduce the homeowner's mortgage repayments.
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