What is a Mortgage Prisoner?

 

What is a Mortgage Prisoner web cover

‘Mortgage prisoners’ are people who are unable to switch mortgages to a better deal, despite being up-to-date with their mortgage payments.

Where does the name come from?

As the name suggests it is a situation where homeowners are ‘trapped’ in their existing mortgage, unable to switch to a deal with better terms, or rates. The term ‘mortgage prisoner’ surfaced during the financial crisis of 2008.

How does someone become a mortgage prisoner?
Mortgage prisoners often arise due to a combination of factors such as changes in economic downturns, lending practices, and regulatory constraints.

Below are a couple of scenarios which could lead to a borrower becoming a mortgage prisoner:

  1. High Loan-to-Value (LTV) Ratio: if you have taken out a mortgage with high LTV ratios, which means you borrowed a large portion of the property’s value (read more about LTV here). If the value of the property declines, or if your financial situation deteriorates, you may find yourself in a position where you owe more on your mortgage that the property is actually worth. This can make it difficult to refinance or switch lenders.
  2. Tightened Lending Criteria: following the financial crisis, lenders have implemented stricter lending criteria, making it more difficult for borrowers to secure new mortgages. This means, some existing homeowners who were previously able to get a mortgage do not meet the new criteria when trying to switch to a new lender or negotiate terms.

Unfortunately, mortgage prisoners may be stuck with higher interest rates and unable to benefit from any lower interest rates on the market. There are regulations and policies in place which provide initiatives to provide relief and potential solutions for those affected and facing financial hardship.

The team at Mortgage Required will be happy to talk further about Mortgage Prisoners with you. Give us a call on 01628 507477 or email team@mortgagerequired.com 

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

There will be no fee for Mortgage Advice. There may be a fee for arranging a mortgage. The precise amount will depend upon your circumstances, but we estimate it to be between £399 and £599.

Mortgage Required Ltd, Finance House, 5 Bath Road, Maidenhead, SL6 4AQ is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority reference 573718 at www.fca.org.uk.

The Financial Ombudsman Service is an agency for arbitrating on unresolved complaints between regulated firms and their clients. More detail can be found on their website: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk