Bill would relieve families from high mortgage rates
TENS of thousands of families with high mortgage rates may get relief through a new bill presented to Parliament by
West Dunbartonshire MP Martin Docherty-Hughes.
He said around 200,000 people across the UK, including 40,000 Scots, are “mortgage prisoners” who are at risk of losing their homes.
Many have been stuck with high-interest rates since the 2008 financial crisis, unable to switch due to toughened borrowing criteria.
The SNP MP presented a Ten-Minute Rule Bill to Parliament after raising the case of his constituent who might lose his family home of 25 years due to surging interest rates.
Introducing his bill to parliament, he said: “In January the Prime Minister assured me that they’re aware of the difficulties facing mortgage prisoners and would be taking action, yet the Chancellor failed to introduce measures to tackle the issue.
“It is scandalous that, yet again, the
Spring Budget has ignored the plight of tens of thousands of individuals and families unfairly trapped on crippling mortgage rates.
“As the UK government sit on their hands, having made billions from the sale of closed mortgage books, mortgage prisoners face losing their homes through no fault of their own.
“The bill that I am introducing to parliament aims to finally end the unfair 16-year financial injustice and address the failures of successive Conservative and Labour Governments.”
The Mortgages (Switching) Bill, which has cross-party support, seeks to free “mortgage prisoners” from excessive standard variable rates, stop unethical profiteering by non-lending organisations, and ensure compensation for those affected.
On March 11, the Mortgages (Switching) Bill passed its initial parliamentary reading without objections.
It is due for its second reading in the House of Commons on June 14.