It would appear that Mortgage Express are now operating a zero tolerance policy on buy to let mortgage accounts which fall two or months into arrears.

In recent months I have heard of several landlords who feel hard done by.

After just two months of mortgage arrears have accumulated Mortgage Express have called in their loans. Repayment of arrears does not appear to save people at this point. It’s too late! Mortgage Express have called their loan in and that’s their right to do so. Mortgage Express will happily accept payment for the mortgage arrears but they are not legally compelled to reverse their decision on calling in their mortgages. Some lenders are more tolerant but tot Mortgage Express it would seem. They have their instructions and they are sticking to them. Their objective is to recover as much money as possible – END OF STORY!

In the examples I have seen Mortgage Express has called in LPA Receivers to collect rents until such a point as tenants can be evicted and the property is then sold. Any surplus of sale proceeds over and above the mortgage and accumulated costs is then offset against any other Mortgage Express accounts which are also called in under their rights to consolidate. Once all Mortgage Express accounts are cleared any surplus balance is then returned to the borrower. However, in all of the cases I have seen to date there has been a deficit and Mortgage Express have then pursued this too, in many cases leaving their former borrower with little if any choice other than to consider personal bankruptcy.

I have been asked by several borrowers whether I would be prepared to fight this for them. Whilst I think the situation is particularly harsh on both borrowers and tenants, now that I understand what is actually happening here I cannot see that anything illegal is being done by Mortgage Express.

It’s harsh but apparently it’s what all Mortgage Express buy to let borrowers signed up to.

The message therefore is do not fall into arrears on your Mortgage Express accounts.

It seems clear to me that Mortgage Express are now coming under massive pressure to call in mortgages which are in default. In my cynical opinion, that is the only reason they want to meet with their borrowers. It’s a fact finding exercise whereby they present opportunities for their borrowers to admit to being in default, other than for mortgage arrears.

My advice to all Mortgage Express borrowers is to read your terms and conditions very carefully and to follow them to the letter. If Mortgage Express want a meeting then ask them to confirm in writing what gives them the their rights to insist on a meeting and immediately seek professional advice. Also remember that if your tenants don’t pay you that’s not an acceptable excuse for not paying your mortgage. In fact, there is NO acceptable excuse I can think of other than Mortgage Express not taking payment. Therefore, if you haven’t got a decent liquidity fund I strongly recommend that you fully reference your tenants and purchase insurance against the risk of your tenants not paying your rent.

If it makes you feel any better the latest take on the word Gangsters in Banksters!