Mis-Sold Mortgages

For most of us, our mortgage is the biggest and most important loan that we will ever have. It is therefore vital that you have the right mortgage for you. The Financial Conduct Authority regulates mortgage advisors and lenders and sets out detailed rules about the advice that must be provided in relation to mortgages. However, in many cases financial advisors, lenders and brokers have failed to provide proper advice leading to individuals being left with mortgages they cannot afford to pay.

How do I know if I have been mis-sold a mortgage?

You may have been mis-sold a mortgage product if at the time you took out your mortgage your lender, financial advisor or broker failed to:

  • Properly assess your individual circumstances;
  • Failed to provide you with information about the options available to you;
  • Failed to provide you with a recommendation that reflects your personal circumstances.

Examples of mortgage mis-selling

You may have been advised to borrow money without proving your income (known as self-certification) or were advised to overstate your income.

You may have been advised to take out a mortgage that ended beyond your retirement age date.

You may have been advised to switch lenders but weren’t told about fees and penalties.

You may have been persuaded to switch mortgage but not told about commission payments being paid to an advisor by the lender.

You may have been advised to take out an interest-only mortgage without proper consideration being given by your financial advisor to the repayment of capital.

 

 

Common problems arising with mis-sold mortgages

If your mortgage was mis-sold you may  have experienced some of the following problems:

  • Inappropriate interest rates
  • Negative equity
  • High fees
  • Inability to pay mortgage
  • Repossession