Tom Levitt MP has welcomed the news that High Peak is amongst the areas that will benefit immediately from new Government services to reduce home repossessions. Housing Minister John Healey today announced more help for families facing repossession of their home with the doubling of extra funding for free, on-the-spot, legal advice in courts.

The announcement came as the Council of Mortgage Lenders revised their forecast of repossessions for 2009 downwards from 75,000 to 65,000. The CML said a range of Government and industry initiatives meant more people are making contact with their lenders and in most cases getting help.

“It is real backstop help for those closest to the point of losing their home,” explained John Healey. “All’s not lost, even in court. In four out of five cases, the court desk advisers stop immediate repossession or eviction. Over the last year we’ve seen this work to help people keep their homes, so I’m doubling the extra money to support this service to £1.5million.”

Free legal advice and representation through court desks is just one of a range of help measures introduced by Government to protect people’s homes. It has a proven track record in preventing immediate repossession action when people attend court.

More than 200,000 families each month are getting help with their mortgage interest or getting free Government funded advice from their local council.

Lenders must now treat customers fairly, using repossession as a last resort. The Government has also put in place special schemes for some of the most vulnerable, elderly and disabled people at risk of having their home repossessed.

Mr Levitt said “I am very pleased that people in High Peak will now be able to access this extra help if they need it. Over recent months these Government measures have been very successful in preventing repossessions where possible and now people in High Peak can get that same protection.

“Lenders can only repossess homes as a last resort. If a solution can’t be found people should seek this free independent advice,“ he said.