Abhaile Scheme

Help mortgage holders in arrears to find the best solutions and keep them wherever possible, in their own homes.

What is the Scheme of Aid and Advice for Borrowers in Home Mortgage Arrears?

The Government has put a new Scheme in place to help people who are insolvent and in serious mortgage arrears on their home to access free, independent, expert advice. A person is insolvent when they are unable to pay their
debts in full when they are due.

The Scheme provides financial and / or legal advice and assistance to people in this situation. The aim of the Scheme is to help mortgage holders in arrears to find the best solutions and keep them wherever possible, in their own homes.

I am in mortgage arrears, what can this Scheme offer me?

The Scheme can help you in a number of different ways. Panels of qualified and regulated financial and legal professionals have been set up. You can choose someone from these panels to give you the advice you need. The panel details are available on the website keepingyourhome.ie.

Financial advice If you need financial advice, you can get a free face to face meeting with an expert financial adviser. The adviser can help you to work through your money situation and explain to you what options are available to help with your mortgage arrears. Where possible the adviser will help you to find a way to keep you in your home. The expert adviser could be a Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) Dedicated Mortgage Arrears adviser, a Personal Insolvency Practitioner (PIP) or an accountant.

Do I Qualify?

To qualify you must be:

In mortgage arrears on your home.
Insolvent. This means that you are unable to pay your debts in full as they fall due. MABS or your Personal Insolvency Practitioner (PIP) will be able to help you to work this out.
At risk of losing your home because of arrears.For example, you may have received a letter from your lender to say that you are not co-operating, that your mortgage is unsustainable, or inviting you to consider selling or surrendering your home, or saying that they are going to begin repossession proceedings or that proceedings have already begun.
‘Reasonably accommodated’This means that the costs of continuing to live in your home are not disproportionately expensive. This takes into account your reasonable living accommodation needs and those of your dependants, and the costs of alternative accommodation in your case. MABS or your PIP will be able to tell you whether you meet these conditions.

Additional Condition

However, even if the above conditions are satisfied, you will not be eligible for the Scheme if your home is disproportionate to your reasonable living accommodation needs, as set out at section 104 of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012.

If your mortgage arrears relate only to a buy-to-let property, you are not covered by the Scheme. However, if you are in mortgage arrears on your home, and you also own a buy-to-let, you will still be eligible if you satisfy the above conditions.

Testimonials

I found everyone at Firm Advice to be understanding and efficient.

JoeCo. Tipperary

We were relived at the outcome of our application.

Melaine and MarkCo. Tipperary

I was extremely pleased with the help and support and cant thank you enough.

AnthonyCo. Limerick

I found it very helpful I found the advisor very good. They were clear and ensured I understood. They explained everything and used no jargon.

CiaranCo. Clare

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