Other areas of social welfare law

Debt

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10 February

New £20m Preventing Repossessions Fund

Housing Minister announces new fund that gives councils opportunity to offer small interest free loans to struggling homeowners, and ensures that court desks offer on the day advice for those facing repossession.

10 February, 2012

Repossessions lowest since 2007

Council of Mortgage Lenders figures show that total number of properties taken into possession by first-charge mortgage lenders in 2011 was 36,200.

10 February, 2012

9 February

Mortgage and landlord possession statistics - October to December 2011

New Ministry of Justice figures show that numbers of mortgage possession claims issued and claims leading to orders made in the county courts of England and Wales have been 'reasonably stable' during last two years.

09 February, 2012

8 February

Housing benefit claimants face choice of debt, cutting back on expenses or risking homelessness

Northern Area Social Housing Forum publishes regional forecast for impact of government’s new policy framework that shows impact of reforms vary depending on local housing market.

08 February, 2012

7 February

‘Precious Plastic 2012: All change please’

New PricewaterhouseCoopers report warns mainstream lenders that customers are being increasingly drawn towards 'smaller, more agile loan providers', reports guardian.co.uk.

07 February, 2012

Sale and rent back market temporarily closed

Financial Services Authority publishes report that shows most sale and rent back transactions were either unaffordable or unsuitable and never should have been sold.

07 February, 2012

6 February

Citizens Advice supports Office of Fair Trading’s attempt to update guidance on debt collection

Charity believes lack of clear guidance has contributed to mis-use of continuous payment authorities, in response to 'Debt Collection - supplementary consultation'.

06 February, 2012

Citizens Advice broadly supports removing debtor’s petitions for the court

Charity responds to Insolvency Service ‘Reform of the Process to Apply for Bankruptcy and Compulsory Winding Up Petition Reform' consultation.

06 February, 2012

3 February

Number of personal insolvencies fall

However, Money Advice Trust caution against considering decrease as completely good news.

03 February, 2012

Finance and Leasing Association re-launches Lending Code

Updated Lending Code has a range of new protections for borrowers in financial difficulty, and new rights for users of store cards and short-term credit.

03 February, 2012

31 January

Water debt increases by a third in 2011

Money Advice Trust figures show that 10 per cent of people calling National Debtline have water debt problems, in 2006 only 3 per cent of people had this problem.

31 January, 2012

30 January

Citizens Advice responds to government’s ‘Bank Accounts for Bankrupts’ consultation

Charity hopes that Insolvency Service takes necessary action to bring an end to the disadvantage that undischarged bankrupts currently experience.

30 January, 2012

Citizens Advice responds to proposed payment protection insurance guidance

Citizens Advice pleased that conduct and competition regulators have shown robust and persistent determination to bring problems under control, in response to FSA and OFT consultation.

30 January, 2012

26 January

Housing (Scotland) Act 2010 (Commencement No. 5) Order 2012

New regulations bring into force provisions including requiring landlords to comply with pre-action requirements before commencing court proceedings where a tenant has rent arrears.

26 January, 2012

Family debts up by almost 50 per cent in a year

Aviva Family Finances report shows that the typical UK family owes £7,944 in unsecured borrowing compared with £5,360 in January 2011, reports guardian.co.uk.