Latest update on mortgage payment holidays – 17/9/2020
We’re currently reviewing the latest guidance from the FCA in relation to payment deferrals and will update our website as soon as possible. If you’ve already received two mortgage payment deferral periods and you’re still worried about meeting your future mortgage payments please call us on 0808 156 1158 as soon as possible to talk through alternative options.
If you haven’t yet taken a mortgage payment holiday, you will be able to apply for a three month break (a deferral of your mortgage payments) until the end of October 2020 if you’ve been financially impacted by coronavirus. You can do this either by calling us on 0808 156 1158 or via our online form here.
If you’ve already had a three month payment holiday
If you are coming to the end of your existing mortgage payment holiday we will write to you to let know your recalculated monthly payment and your revised mortgage balance and outline the next steps to support you during these difficult times. If you can afford to re-start your mortgage payments it’s in your best interests to do so.
These letters are being issued a month before your revised monthly payment will be taken but allowing for any postal delays, we would expect that the letter will arrive no later than 15 days before your next payment is due
When you have come to the end of your existing payment holiday and received this letter you’ll be able to apply for a further holiday online for up to three months if you still cannot afford your monthly payments.
Understanding the impact of your payment holiday
If you’re applying for a further payment holiday or you’re applying for the first time, it’s really important you understand the impact of this deferral (payment holiday you’ve already taken) on your future payments and what a further payment break will mean for your mortgage. You can either call us on 0808 156 1158 and we can provide you with a estimated illustration or you can use our calculator within the online mortgage payment request form. Please note the figures we show you are based on some assumptions, such as you having only one interest rate on your mortgage. If you have multiple parts the calculator will assume all the parts have the same interest rate and term as well as repayment type. If you have more than one interest rate or term, you can check if this is the case on your latest mortgage statement or checking your mortgage account online, you should use the following when you do your calculation:
- The highest interest you’re paying
- The shortest term you have
- Tick the repayment type with the highest balance (if part Interest Only and part Repayment)
- Input the shortest term remaining
Please be aware that this illustration does not include any mortgage payment protection insurance premiums collected with your mortgage payment. If you would like us to assist you with the illustration, call us on 0808 156 1158. The payment the calculator will give you is based on the above assumptions, the accuracy of the information you provide and therefore may differ to the actual payment calculated at the end of the payment holiday.
Here are some examples of how a payment holiday can affect monthly payments and the total amount payable for repayment and interest only mortgages. The examples shown below are for a three-month payment holiday:
Outstanding mortgage balance: £50,000
| Repayment | Interest only | |
| Current outstanding mortgage balance | £50,000 | £50,000 |
| Interest rate | 1.99% | 1.99% |
| Months remaining on deal | 60 | 60 |
| Standard Variable Rate | 4.49% | 4.49% |
| Term remaining (years) | 6 | 6 |
| Current monthly payment | £736.14 | £82.92 |
| New monthly payment after payment holiday | £766.28 | £83.33 |
| Monthly increase | £30.14 | £0.41 |
| Total amount to repay without payment holiday | £53,159.38 | £77,428.03 |
| Total amount to repay with three month repayment holiday | £53,287.11 | £77,563.12 |
| Total increase | £127.72 | £135.09 |
Outstanding mortgage balance: £150,000
| Repayment | Interest only | |
| Current outstanding mortgage balance | £150,000 | £150,000 |
| Interest rate | 1.99% | 1.99% |
| Months remaining on deal | 60 | 60 |
| Standard Variable Rate | 4.49% | 4.49% |
| Term remaining (years) | 15 | 15 |
| Current monthly payment | £963.12 | £248.76 |
| New monthly payment after payment holiday | £981.99 | £250.00 |
| Monthly increase | £18.87 | £1.24 |
| Total amount to repay without payment holiday | £188,042.45 | £232,284.09 |
| Total amount to repay with three month repayment holiday | £188,777.48 | £232,689.37 |
| Total increase | £705.03 | £405.28. |
Outstanding mortgage balance: £210,000
| Repayment | Interest only | |
| Current outstanding mortgage balance | £210,000 | £210,000 |
| Interest rate | 2.06% | 2.06% |
| Months remaining on deal | 60 | 60 |
| Standard Variable Rate | 4.49% | 4.49% |
| Term remaining (years) | 26 | 26 |
| Current monthly payment | £868.52 | £360.52 |
| New monthly payment after payment holiday | £879.51 | £362.38 |
| Monthly increase | £10.98 | £1.86 |
| Total amount to repay without payment holiday | £326,870.28 | £429,665.40 |
| Total amount to repay with three month repayment holiday | £326,322.43 | £430,789.22 |
| Total increase | £1452.15 | £1,123.82 |
If your current mortgage holiday has ended, you can apply for a further mortgage payment holiday using this form.
Mortgage Repayment Holiday Request form
When to talk to us
If you’re worried about meeting your long term financial needs then a payment holiday may not be the best option for you. This is because during the payment holiday period interest will continue to be charged and your mortgage balance will increase. Therefore, if you’re already in arrears or facing long term difficulty it’s really important you talk to us before applying for a payment holiday.
If you are considering whether a mortgage payment deferral is right for you, see the Money Advice Service’s A guide to coronavirus mortgage payment holidays for useful information.
Further help and support if you’re struggling
If you are in financial difficulty you can call Money Advice Trust on 0808 808 4000, they can offer guidance on dealing with day to day budgeting and advice on how to manage unsecured debts.
You can also find lots of useful information on Money Advice Service Coronavirus Support page including information around debt, action plans, redundancy, bereavement and lots more here.
If you need any support accessing our information please visit this page where there will be further help.
Taking a mortgage repayment holiday
If you are able to maintain your mortgage payments, you should continue to do so.
However, if you have been financially impacted by COVID19 and this is impacting your ability to meet your monthly mortgage payment, then you are able to request a payment holiday up to a maximum of 3 months as long as you are currently up to date with your mortgage repayments without any impact on your credit file. If you are currently in arrears, please contact us on:
0808 156 1158 (open 9am - 5pm weekdays and 9am - 1pm Saturday), to discuss alternative solutions.
If you choose to take a payment holiday you need to be aware that the interest usually charged within your monthly payments will be added to the balance of the mortgage. Your account will be re-calculated at the end of the instalment break and written confirmation will be provided. The payment will be calculated at that time using your higher balance and spread throughout the remaining term. It is very likely your monthly payments will increase.
Interest only mortgages or parts of mortgage
If you have elements of your mortgage account on interest only you need to be aware that these balances will increase to cover the amount of accrued interest that has been added due to the missed payments.
For the interest only elements of your mortgage the recalculated monthly payments will continue to only pay off the interest and will not reduce your increased outstanding balance. It is important, therefore, to check regularly that your savings plan and other investment plan that you may have in place is on track to repay this mortgage at the end of its term.
Your initial payment holiday will be agreed in writing subject to approval.
Although Payment Holidays can help in the short term, if you have a repayment mortgage at the time of the payment holiday the interest will continue to be added to your mortgage and the missed payments will need to be made up over the remainder of the mortgage term, meaning that your contractual monthly payment will increase.
By requesting a payment holiday, you are confirming:
- You have been financially impacted by COVID19
- You want to proceed with the payment holiday
- You will be able to start to repay your mortgage once the payment holiday ends
Understanding mortgage payment holidays
You may be eligible to apply for a Payment Holiday if:
- Your mortgage payments are up to date
- You have been directly or indirectly impacted by Covid-19
If your account is in arrears, you may be eligible but we would need to talk to you to assess this.
Although we try to help as many customers as possible, there will be some cases where a payment holiday may not be available to you.
In order to process your payment holiday, we may need to call you to complete an income and expenditure check with you which will help us understand your current financial situation. This will include discussing details of any regular source of income and any regular outgoings.
You can also cancel an existing payment holiday at any time by calling us. Cancelling your payment holiday early would have a positive impact on your monthly mortgage payment going forward.
How to apply
If you haven’t already taken a mortgage payment holiday, think you would be eligible and would like to apply for a payment holiday, complete the form below or call us on 0808 156 1158.
If you have already had a mortgage payment holiday and want to apply for a further payment holiday you will have to wait until you have come to the end of your existing payment holiday and have received a letter from us outlining the impact it has had on your mortgage.
Before you do this, it’s really important you understand the impact of this deferral (payment holiday you’ve already taken) on your future payments and what a further payment break will mean for your mortgage. If you can afford to re-start your mortgage payments it’s in your best interests to do so.
If you’ve already taken two mortgage payment deferrals please do not fill in the form for another as it will automatically be declined. If you’re still worried about meeting your future mortgage payments please call us on 0808 156 1158 as soon as possible to talk through alternative options.
To apply for a Payment Holiday or Payment Holiday Extension, use the form below.
We will aim to respond to your request within 7 working days but please bear with us as we are experiencing high volumes.
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