Housing advice

Mortgage repayments

If you can't meet your mortgage repayments, or you're worried you might fall behind, contact your lender as soon as possible.

Your lender may:

reduce your payments for a set period
charge you interest only for a while, if you've got a repayment mortgage (usually you pay capital and interest)
extend your mortgage term to reduce your payments.

Get more advice at www.housingadviceNI.org.uk

Housing Executive

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive can provide you with information about:

Housing Benefit
how to apply for a Housing Executive or housing association home
renting privately
helping you if you are homeless or about to be homeless.

The Housing Executive also provide some housing grants to help pay for renovations, repairs and installing disabled facilities.

For more information, visit www.nihe.gov.uk

Benefits

Make sure you are receiving all benefits you may be entitled to.

Below are just a few of the benefits available:

Housing Benefit is a tax-free, income related benefit awarded to you if you are responsible for paying rent or rates.

A Cold Weather Payment is paid automatically when the average temperature is, or is forecast to be, 0 degrees centigrade or below over seven consecutive days.

For more information on benefits, visit www.dsdni.gov.uk

You can also visit your local Social Security Agency office - find your local Social Security Agency office

Free advice

If you need help or advice about housing or debt, the following organisations offer free support:

Housing Rights (for advice on mortgage debt)
Telephone: 028 9024 5640
Web: www.housingadviceNI.org.uk

Citizens Advice
Telephone: 028 9023 1120
Web: www.citizensadvice.co.uk

Independent advice centres
Telephone: 028 9064 5919

The Consumer Credit Counselling Service
Telephone: 0800 138 1111
Web: www.cccs.co.uk