Mortgage woes haunt families
THE number of Doncaster homeowners facing eviction for failing to meet mortgage payments has jumped by almost half to more than three a day.
County Court judges made 316 possession orders between April and June - up 40 per cent on the second quarter of last year.
Mayor of Doncaster Martin Winter said the figures are a cause for concern.
The Ministry of Justice figures provide evidence about the credit crunch's impact on the poorest households. Doncaster Citizen's Advice Bureau operations manager Beryl Kellett said part of the problem was people failing to pay secured loans taken out to consolidate debts such as credit cards. Such agreements have been widely advertised on tv: "A lot of the issues we're seeing are not necessarily about the client having their house repossessed, although that is on the rise.
"Many now have secured loans and they're falling behind with those payments, so it is the secured loan lender who is starting proceedings. These loans turn unsecured loans into secured ones."
She is urging anyone with debt problems to contact the CAB at Old Guild Hall Yard as soon as they become aware of the issue to try to find a solution.
The Mayor is considering calling a meeting with Shelter, the CAB and borough bosses to see if more can be done to alert people to early advice and help: "In March I approved a strategy that anticipated the problem of repossessions and the housing capital programme contains provision for buy back of certain properties where this might lead to homelessness. The credit crunch is having many serious consequences and one I am most concerned about is repossession of homes. This often affects young people trying their utmost to make their way in life in the most difficult of circumstances."
Anyone made homeless should contact the council's Housing Department immediately for help.
Housing Minister and Don Valley MP Caroline Flint said: "We are making sure the right advice and support is available for the minority of borrowers who need it ."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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