KnowYour Rights
HELP FOR PEOPLE IN MORTGAGE ARREARS
Question: We’re way behind with our mortgage and can’t pay our other bills either. We’re afraid that the bank will take our home -- they keep sending us letters. What can we do?
Answer: You can contact MABS, the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, to get help under the scheme of aid and advice for borrowers in home mortgage arrears. Contact the MABS Helpline: 0761 07 2000 (9am - 8pm, Mon - Fri) or your local MABS office.
This scheme is part of Abhaile, the national Mortgage Arrears Resolution Service. It provides a range of services to help you to deal with your situation, including financial advice, legal advice and insolvency advice.
Abhaile is coordinated by the Departments of Justice and Equality, and Employment Affairs and Social Protection. It is operated by MABS along with the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI), the Legal Aid Board and the Citizens Information Board. Panels of qualified and regulated professionals provide services under Abhaile.
You will qualify for advice and assistance under Abhaile if:
You are insolvent -- this means that you are unable to pay your debts in full as they fall due and
You are in mortgage arrears on your home and
You are at risk of losing your home (for example, if your mortgage lender has initiated repossession proceedings or indicated that they plan to do so; if they have said that they consider you to be non-cooperating; or if they have asked you to consider selling or surrendering your home) and
The costs of staying in your home are proportionate to your reasonable accommodation needs
You can contact MABS to check if you are eligible for Abhaile (as eligibility is decided case by case). Read more about Abhaile on mabs.ie.
Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centres: Tralee on Tel: 0761 07 7860; Killarney 0761 07 7820; Listowel 0761 07 7840; Kenmare 0761 07 7810; Caherciveen 0761 07 7780.
Outreach Services; Killorglin weekly, Dingle monthly, please call Tralee for more information.
Information is also available online at citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, 0761 07 4000