John Healey extends debt advice help for homeowners
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Housing Minister John Healey has today extended free advice for families facing the threat of repossession, pumping an extra £4m into the scheme.
This government funding will go to debt advice agencies, as well as 80 court desks across the country.
Some 36,000 cases have been seen by the court desks over the past year, and more than 100,000 households have benefited from free advice on managing their debts from charities and councils.
Healey says services offering free advice and representation in court have helped stop repossession in four out of five cases making use of their service, supported by extra Government funding to ensure help is available in county courts across England.
Healey, says: “More than 330,000 homeowners have benefited from a comprehensive range of government help and support over the past year, and repossessions are running at half the rate of the last recession. But with the risk of repossession set to remain high throughout next year, I want to ensure we are doing everything possible to help.
“The people who work in debt advice agencies are, in many respects, the unsung heroes of our campaign to help people avoid repossession. Whether over the phone, face to face or in court desks across the country, the service they provide is a vital lifeline for those who feel that repossession is just around the corner. So I’m extending this free help into next year with £4m additional Government funding.”
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