Are you experiencing financial difficulties?

We're here to help

We understand that things can change from time to time and this may mean you could face some unexpected financial challenges.  If you’ve fallen behind with your mortgage payments or you’re worried you might start to struggle, then we're here to help.

It may help to simply change the date your mortgage payment is due to better fit in with when you receive your income and help with budgeting. We won't charge you to change your payment date.

Please call us on 0344 481 0030 and speak to one of our team of friendly, experienced agents. Our opening times are Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm. Or, if you prefer, you can email us at payment.support@thenottingham.com.

It may be helpful to look at your finances and work out your monthly budget before you contact us. You can use our simple income and expenditure form to set out your income and outgoings, or use the Money Helper guide to managing your money.

Don’t ignore the problem, the sooner you get in touch the sooner we can discuss the options which may be available to find a solution and help you through the difficult times.

Useful documents & links

The following documents and links may be of use to you: 

You might also find our mortgage FAQs page helpful. 

What we will do

  • Get in touch as soon as possible to talk through any problems.
  • Talk to a debt advice agency (such as the Citizens Advice Bureau) if you would like us to.
  • Give you reasonable time to pay back the debt.
  • We will only start proceedings to repossess your home if we cannot solve the problem for you.

What we will try to do

  • Arrange a new payment plan to help you through this difficult period.
  • Change the way you make your payments, or the date you pay them on.
  • Give you the option to pay back your mortgage over a longer period of time (reducing your monthly payments).
  • Agree that you can make reduced payments for a short period of time.

It is important to know

If we cannot offer any of the above options, we will tell you why. We will do all we can to make a new arrangement with you, explain it properly and give you time to think it through. If we cannot come to an agreement, you may be able to live in your home until you sell it, depending on the circumstances.

What you can do

Let us know right away if you think you are going to have problems or are already struggling to keep up with payments. If we try to get in touch with you, make sure you get back to us quickly.

Talk to independent organisations that help people deal with debt. It is also important to talk to a debt counseller or lawyer before agreeing to any changes to your mortgage arrangements. Make sure anybody else who helps to pay the mortgage, or guarantees it, is completely up to date.

If we agree a payment plan with you, make sure you keep to it. Let us know straight away if anything changes which may affect the agreement.

Make sure you check if you are entitled to any benefits or tax credits which could boost your income.

If you have a mortgage-related insurance policy, check if it could help cover your payments.

Tell us if you, or anyone else named on the mortgage, moves to another address.

Fees and charges

If you fall behind with your mortgage payments we may charge you administrative and legal costs. We will tell you the amount you will have to pay. Contacting us quickly may avoid you incurring these costs.

If we can’t come to a solution

If we don't hear from you we may ask an independent field agent to visit you at home. They will discuss your circumstances and try to agree a solution. The cost of this will be charged to your mortgage account.

We may have to go to court to start proceedings to repossess your property. If proceedings take place, it’s important that you attend the court hearing and seek independent debt advice. There may be someone available at the court to help you.
We believe that repossession is a last resort. Even if court proceedings begin, we’d still be very keen to work with you to find out a solution.

Before we have to repossess your home, we will give you information about getting in touch with your local authority to see if they can find you somewhere else to live.

If we have to repossess your property

We will give you reasonable time to take your possessions from your property.
We will sell your property for the best price we can reasonably get and as quickly as possible.

The money raised will be used to repay your mortgage and any other loans or charges which have been secured on the property. If there is any money left over, we will pay it to you.

A repossession may affect your ability to get credit in the future.

When selling doesn't cover your mortgage

If there is not enough money from the sale to repay your whole mortgage balance, you will still owe the amount outstanding (the shortfall debt). We will let you know how much this is as soon as possible.

If you bought your property with other borrowers, each of you is responsible for the entire mortgage. This is true even if you only pay part of the mortgage or did not live there. We will get in touch within six years of selling (five in Scotland) to arrange for you to pay back the shortfall and will arrange a payment plan that takes into account your income and outgoings. You may be charged if we have to instruct a tracing agent or other third party to search for your current address.

If we are unable to arrange a plan, we may go to court to get the shortfall back. You could incur court costs if this happens. If the shortfall is not paid, it may be difficult to get credit in the future.

Making a complaint

If you think you haven't been treated fairly, you can write to:

Payment Support Manager
Nottingham Building Society
Nottingham House
3 Fulforth Street
Nottingham
NG1 3DL

Telephone: 0344 481 0030

If you are not happy with the resolution, you can take it to the Financial Ombudsman. They provide a free and independent service:

The Financial Ombudsman Service
Exchange Tower
London
E14 9SR

Telephone: 0800 023 4567
Mobile: 0300 123 9123.

Other issues

Some companies may offer you new loans, or even invite you to sell your property to them and then lease it back as a way of resolving your short-term financial difficulty. Please be careful as such actions may not be in your best long-term interests. We advise you to seek independent advice before entering into any arrangement of this type. You may be thinking about handing your keys back to us. If you do this, you will still owe The Nottingham any outstanding debt, and we advise you to discuss this option first before taking such action.

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