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Mortgage support before you miss a payment

What to ask a mortgage lender before the account falls behind, including temporary options, interest effects and independent advice.

Last reviewed: 6 July 2026 · UK guidance

In brief

Contacting the lender before a missed payment usually gives more room to consider temporary arrangements. Explain what changed, how long it may last and what is affordable after essential costs. Do not cancel the direct debit without understanding the consequences.

Mortgage options can include a short payment arrangement, term change, interest-only period or other tailored support, but each can increase total interest or future payments. Ask for illustrations and written terms. Government Support for Mortgage Interest is a loan for eligible claimants, not a grant.

Prepare a realistic figure

Use net household income and essential spending rather than the payment you hope to manage. Include service charges, secured loans and upcoming rate changes. If the difficulty is temporary, state the expected review date and evidence available.

Ask the lender to compare options

Request the monthly payment, total interest, credit-file effect, fees, end date and what happens afterwards for each option. A lower payment now may produce a sharp increase later, so obtain the full repayment path.

Check insurance and income support

Review mortgage-payment protection, income-protection, critical-illness and employer benefits. Check benefit entitlement and the current Support for Mortgage Interest rules separately. Claims and waiting periods mean these routes should not replace an immediate lender conversation.

Avoid high-risk fixes

Do not use payday credit, transfer unsecured borrowing onto the home or pay a sale-and-rent-back firm without regulated independent advice. If arrears or possession action has already begun, seek specialist debt and housing help immediately.

Contact the lender before a missed payment

Ask for the financial-support or vulnerability team.

My mortgage payment is £[amount] and income has changed because [reason]. I expect the difficulty to last until approximately [date], and I can currently afford £[amount] after essential costs. Please compare all available support options in writing, including monthly payment, total interest, fees, credit-file effect and the payment due when the arrangement ends.

A practical checklist

  • Calculate an affordable payment after essentials.
  • Ask for written cost comparisons.
  • Check insurance and benefit routes.
  • Get independent advice before securing other debt on the home.

Check the current information

These are the most relevant official or specialist places to confirm live rules, availability and application details.

Housing advice — Shelter England

england.shelter.org.uk

Open official information
Find your local council — GOV.UK

gov.uk

Open official information
Housing and local services

gov.uk

Open official information

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A few closely related starting points, chosen from the same support library.

Housing costs: mortgage, rent or housing association supportA route map for rent, mortgage and service-charge pressure, with different first actions for tenants, homeowners and housing-association residents.Priority bills: what to pay first when there is not enough moneyHow to prioritise bills by legal and household consequence when income cannot cover everything—and what to say to the creditors who must wait.Debt help without judgement: where to startA calm first route into debt advice that protects housing, energy and food and does not require you to justify how the situation happened.

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