Charity urges action over repossessions
A housing charity today called on the Government to take urgent action to stem the growing tide of home repossessions.
Focus Ireland wants the State to enforce a mandatory two-year moratorium to all mortgage lenders that will protect people at risk of loosing their home.
A record number of repossession cases came before the High Court at the end of July – 78 in one day – and the figure is likely to rise dramatically after the summer break.
Focus wants the Republic more in line with the Courts Service in the North which recently announced new regulations to reduce the amount of home repossessions from defaulters.
Mike Allen, director of advocacy at Focus, said having similar changes in our legal system that ensure repossession is a last resort would be a positive step.
“The Master of the High Courts has already warned there will be a flood of repossessions next year as the recession deepens and Focus Ireland believes there is currently not sufficient protection in place to prevent this from happening,” said Mr Allen.
“People who fall into mortgage difficulties currently only have a weak and voluntary code of conduct to protect them from the banks. This needs to be improved, as some mortgage lenders seem to be taking legal action at too early a stage.
“Focus Ireland believes a guaranteed two-year moratorium on repossessions is vital if we are to better protect householders in difficulties.”
Focus said that in the north mortgage lenders will have to demonstrate to the courts that they have tried to discuss and agree alternatives to repossession when borrowers get into arrears.
It stated the Republic’s already busy court system is being over-loaded with cases even though some banks have a moratorium against pursuing mortgage arrears.
Bank of Ireland and AIB agreed not to bring cases before the courts until February at the earliest.
“The growing level of difficulties of homeowners was also highlighted by reports that one in 10 queries received by a Dublin-based legal centre are now from people having difficulty making their mortgage repayments,” added a charity spokesman.
