Mortgage arrears: what to do next
This guide covers England and Wales
The short answer
Mortgage arrears are missed mortgage payments. Speak to your lender early and get free housing advice. A missed payment, court hearing and eviction date are different stages.
If you already have an eviction date, contact the court and a housing adviser today. Do not wait for an online form to stop the eviction.
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Find the stage you are at
Use the document you have, rather than guessing what it means.
- A missed payment or warning letter: contact the lender and ask what support is available.
- Court papers or a hearing date: check every deadline and get housing advice. A hearing is not an eviction date.
- An eviction date from bailiffs: use our urgent eviction-date guide.
Talking to your lender
Ask for an up-to-date account of what you owe and keep copies of letters and notes of calls. Tell the lender if your circumstances have changed. You do not have to work out an offer on this site.
Before court action, the lender must consider a request to change how you pay, respond to payment offers and give reasons for rejecting one. GOV.UK sets out the detailed steps and notice periods.
If the lender starts court action
You may still reach an agreement, but attend the hearing unless the court confirms it has been cancelled or postponed. Do not assume an agreement with the lender has removed a court deadline.
The Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service can provide free legal advice from the point you receive written notice seeking possession. Ask the service about help for your situation.
Papers to find
Keep these for the adviser, not for upload to this website.
- Recent mortgage statement and arrears letters.
- Any claim form, hearing notice, possession order or bailiff notice.
- A note of income, essential spending and changes affecting payments.
Already have an eviction date? The urgent guide explains court contact and free housing advice.
What to do next
Free, independent debt advice
These services are free. They will not judge you, and they can look at your whole situation.
Free debt advice charity. They can talk through all your options with you.
Call free: 0800 138 1111 (number checked on their website on 24 October 2026)
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Call free: 0800 144 8848 (number checked on their website on 24 October 2026)
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Free money guidance backed by government. It has a tool to find free debt advice near you.
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Related guides
- Been given an eviction date? What to do todayWhat an eviction date means, who to call for free help today, and how a judge can sometimes pause an eviction. Information for England and Wales.
- N244 help for a mortgage evictionWhat form N244 can and cannot do when your lender has an eviction date, the court fee, urgent free help, and a free tool to fill in the form.
- Worried about losing your home? Start hereThree starting points: worried about a payment, received court papers, or have an eviction date. The first useful step for each, and free housing help.