Reasons to sell · Repossession
Selling a house facing repossession
Falling behind on your mortgage is frightening, and letters from your lender can make it feel like the decision has already been made. It hasn’t. Until the day of eviction, the house is still yours to sell.
Selling before your lender takes the house back can protect the equity you’ve built up and keep the timing in your hands. We’re not right for every situation, but if you need a guaranteed buyer and a fixed completion date, we can move quickly.
Received court papers?
You can still sell, even with a hearing date booked.
Tell your lender and the court you’re selling. Evidence of an agreed sale can support a request for more time.
Get an offer to show your lender Call 0161 507 0213Your options
Three ways to deal with mortgage arrears
The right route depends on how far behind you are, whether the problem is temporary, and how much time your lender will give you.
Option 1
Talk to your lender and stay
If the problem is short-term, your lender may agree a payment plan, a temporary switch to interest-only or a longer mortgage term. They must treat repossession as a last resort.
Watch out: any plan you agree has to be affordable. Breaking it can move things closer to court.
Option 2 · Fastest route
Sell to We Buy Any House
We can complete in as little as 3 days, and we’ll aim to work to your lender’s deadline or court timetable. Your mortgage and arrears are paid off from the sale, and any equity left is yours.
Why it helps: no viewings, no buyer pulling out, no estate agent fees, and we cover your legal fees.
See what we’d offerOption 3
Sell through an estate agent
Usually takes 3 to 6 months. You may get closer to full market price, and some lenders will hold off while a genuine sale is going through.
Watch out: if the buyer pulls out late, you may not have time to start again before your lender acts.
Timing
Selling at each stage of repossession
You can sell at any point until you’re evicted. The earlier you act, the more options you have. Here’s how the process usually works in England and Wales.
Missed payments
Arrears building, no court action
Your lender must contact you and try to agree a way forward first. Selling now gives you the most time and the most choice.
Court papers arrive
Possession claim and hearing date
Fill in and return the defence form. Tell the court you’re selling and include evidence, such as an offer letter.
Possession order
Outright or suspended
The court may give you time to sell, or suspend the order on conditions. You can still sell with an order in place.
Eviction date set
Warrant of possession
Bailiffs must give notice of the date. You can ask the court to suspend the warrant if a sale is about to complete. Get advice straight away.
Most UK lenders have signed the Mortgage Charter, which means they won’t repossess a home without your consent within 12 months of the first missed payment. Scotland has a different court process. Always check your position with a free debt adviser or solicitor. Read the GOV.UK guide to repossession.
Whatever stage you’re at, there’s still time to act
Get your free, no-obligation offer. It gives you and your lender a clear figure and a date to work with.
Common question
Will my lender wait if I’m selling?
Often, yes, but it isn’t guaranteed. Your lender wants the debt repaid, and a sale usually does that faster and at a better price than repossession.
The more evidence you can show that a sale is real (an accepted offer, solicitor details, a completion date) the more likely your lender or the court is to give you time.
Tell your lender in writing
Explain you’re selling, share your offer and keep copies of everything you send.
Get free legal advice
In England, the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service gives free legal help to anyone facing possession proceedings, including on the day of the hearing.
Ask the court for time
A court can adjourn a hearing, or suspend an order or warrant, if you can show the debt is likely to be repaid through a sale.
Your situation
Every situation is different
Some of the situations we see most often, and what they mean for selling your home.
Behind, but no letters yet
This is the best time to act. Speak to your lender now. If the arrears aren’t realistic to clear, selling early protects the most equity.
See what your home could sell forYour lender already has an order
A possession order doesn’t mean the house is gone. Until you’re evicted, you can still sell. Talk to us and an adviser the same day.
Get your free offer todayNegative equity
If a sale won’t clear the mortgage, you’ll still owe the shortfall, and lenders can chase it for years. Speak to your lender and a free debt adviser before deciding.
Secured loans on the house
Second-charge loans and secured debts are repaid from the sale too. We’ll need details of every lender with a charge on the property.
A joint mortgage with an ex
You’re both responsible for the full payment, even if one of you has moved out. Missed payments affect both your credit files.
Selling in Scotland
The process is different. Lenders must meet pre-action requirements and then apply to the sheriff court. We buy across Scotland too.
Tell us about your situation
However urgent things feel, our team will make you a fair, no-obligation offer and work to the deadline you’re facing.
A fully managed service
How selling to us works when you’re in arrears
Every case is different, but most sales follow these six steps.
Step 1
Tell us about your home
Call 0161 507 0213 or fill in our short online form. Let us know about any court dates or deadlines.
Step 2
Get your free, no-obligation offer
A property expert will be in touch with your offer and a realistic completion date.
Step 3
Check the numbers
Ask your lender for a redemption statement so you know exactly what you owe. Talk it through with a free debt adviser if you’re unsure.
Step 4
Let your lender know
Share your offer and completion date with your lender. With your permission, we can provide what they need to see.
Step 5
We handle the paperwork
Accept, and we’ll cover the legal fees and most of the paperwork, aiming to work to your lender’s or the court’s timetable.
Step 6
Your mortgage is cleared
Your solicitor pays off the mortgage and arrears from the sale, then transfers any money left over to you.
What happens to the money on completion?
The money goes to your solicitor or conveyancer, not straight to you. They pay off your mortgage in full, including the arrears and any charges your lender has added.
Next, they repay any other loans secured on the house. Whatever is left after that is yours.
Get an up-to-date redemption statement from your lender before you accept an offer, so you know what you’ll walk away with.
Get an offer and see what you’d keepWhat you’ll need
- Photo ID for every owner on the deeds
- Mortgage details, including your lender and account reference
- Your latest arrears letter or redemption statement
- Any court papers: claim form, possession order or eviction notice
- Details of any other loans secured on the property
- Land Registry title, or we can help you find it
Side by side
Sell to us, or wait for repossession?
Once your lender is involved, a quick sale is often the best way to keep control of what happens to your home. Here’s the difference.
| Factor | Fastest routeSell to We Buy Any House | Wait for repossession |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Complete in as little as 3 days | Set by your lender and the court |
| Certainty | Guaranteed buyer, guaranteed date | Your lender decides when it happens |
| Control | You choose the completion date | Your lender controls the sale |
| Fees | No agent or legal fees | Legal, eviction and sale costs added to your debt |
| Your home | Stay until the day you agreed to move | Usually sold after you’ve been evicted |
| Price | Agreed upfront, no renegotiation | Often sold for less, with no say from you |
| Afterwards | Mortgage cleared, any equity paid to you | Lender’s costs come off first, and any shortfall is still owed |
| Get my free offer |
Our offers are below full market value, but they’re agreed upfront and won’t be renegotiated. Prefer to talk it through? Call 0161 507 0213
Honest advice
Is a quick sale right for you?
Selling your home is a big step, and it isn’t always the answer to arrears. Here’s how to tell.
A good fit if…
- The arrears are too large to realistically clear
- You have a court date or eviction notice coming up
- You have equity in the house you want to protect
- You’d rather move on your own terms than be evicted
Maybe not the best fit if…
- The problem is temporary and your lender can offer a plan
- You haven’t spoken to your lender or a debt adviser yet
- You could get help with your mortgage interest through benefits
- The sale won’t clear your mortgage. Speak to your lender first
Before you sell
Is there help to keep my home?
There might be. If you want to stay, check these first. A free debt adviser can tell you which apply to you.
If none of them close the gap, selling before repossession can still protect your equity and your credit.
See what selling could leave you withThe Mortgage Charter
Most lenders have signed up. If you’re up to date with payments, you may be able to switch to interest-only for six months or extend your term without an affordability check.
Support for Mortgage Interest
If you get certain benefits, a government loan may help cover your mortgage interest. It’s repaid when you sell. Check if you’re eligible on GOV.UK
Breathing Space
In England and Wales, a debt adviser can apply for a pause on enforcement action over arrears while you get advice. You still need to keep up your regular mortgage payments.
Watch out for sale and rent back offers
Some firms offer to buy your home and let you rent it back. These schemes must be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Before you agree to anything:
- Check the firm on the FCA Register
- Never pay an upfront fee to sell your home
- Get independent advice before signing anything
We don’t offer sale and rent back.
Selling when time is short
You don’t need to have everything sorted before you call us. Tell us your deadline and we’ll work back from it.
- We can talk to your lender or solicitor, with your permission
- We’ll do everything we can to complete before a court or eviction date
- No upfront fees, ever
- You can leave behind furniture and contents you don’t want. If the property needs to be fully cleared, a clearance charge may apply
Honest, friendly and professional
“Great experience working with webuyanyhouse in difficult circumstances… it was an honest conversation, no pressure and went at our pace.”
Make a fresh start with We Buy Any House
Money worries can take over everything. Selling to us takes the house off your list, with no estate agents, viewings or buyers pulling out.
We’ve been helping homeowners since 2008, and we’ll treat you with respect and without judgement at every step.
FAQs
Selling a house facing repossession: your questions answered
Our property experts answer what homeowners in arrears ask us most. Select a question to see the answer.
Can I sell my house if it’s being repossessed?
Yes. Until you’re evicted, the house is still yours to sell. You’ll need your lender to agree to release their charge when the sale completes, which they will if the mortgage is paid off in full.
How long before my home is repossessed?
It varies, but it usually takes months. Lenders must try to agree a plan with you before going to court, and those who’ve signed the Mortgage Charter won’t repossess without your consent within 12 months of your first missed payment.
Will selling stop the court case?
Once the mortgage is repaid, your lender has no reason to continue. Before then, showing that a sale is under way can persuade your lender or the court to give you more time, but it isn’t guaranteed. Get legal advice.
Can I sell after a possession order has been made?
Yes. If an eviction date has been set, tell us straight away. You can ask the court to suspend the warrant if a sale is close to completing.
What if I owe more than my house is worth?
You’ll still owe the difference after the sale, whether you sell or the lender repossesses. Speak to your lender and a free debt adviser before deciding. We may not be the right option for you.
Will selling protect my credit file?
Missed payments will already show on your file. Selling before repossession can avoid the extra costs and further damage that come with your lender taking the house back.
Do I need to tell my lender I’m selling?
Yes, and the sooner the better. Keeping your lender informed shows you’re dealing with the debt and gives them a reason to wait.
How quickly can you buy my house?
We can complete in as little as 3 days, and we’ll aim to fit around your lender’s or the court’s timetable.
Can I stay in my home until the sale completes?
In most cases, yes, unless an eviction date comes first. You’ll agree a moving date as part of the sale.
Will I need a solicitor?
Yes. A solicitor or licensed conveyancer handles the legal side of the sale and pays off your lender, and we cover those legal fees. You may also want separate advice on the court case.
Still unsure what’s right for you?
Get your offer with no obligation, then talk it through with your lender or an adviser.
Support
Free help beyond the house sale
We can help with your property, but we can’t give debt, legal or emotional support. These organisations can, for free.
We Buy Any House doesn’t give legal, financial or debt advice. The information on this page is general and applies to England and Wales unless stated otherwise.
Enjoy a guaranteed, hassle-free sale
Get your free, no-obligation offer. We’ll aim to work to your deadline.