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Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

Almost 400 AIB repossessions stopped in last year

The Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation said the scheme these agreements were made through will be expanded to run another 12 months, due to its success in the last year.

THE IRISH MORTGAGE Holders Organisation (IMHO) has said that it has agreed more than 1,300 long-term resolutions for people who are in mortgage arrears under a pilot project conducted with the AIB Group.

The scheme was announced last year, with the IMHO agreeing to act as a third-party service on behalf of a mortgage holder to negotiate with the bank.

By the end of October this year, a total of 1,330 long-term resolutions for people while a further 177 are awaiting decisions.

In 30% of these cases, customers who were facing repossession proceedings managed to achieve a sustainable solution. This kept more than 399 people in their homes.

The organisation said that a large proportion of clients – some 43% – needed help completing the standard financial statement.

CEO David Hall also announced today that a decision has been made to continue the scheme for another 12 months with an expanded team in IMHO. Currently, the team receives over 125 calls per day and the expansion means that, in many of these distressed mortgage cases, a resolution can now be achieved within eight weeks.

Those involved often appeared to be trapped in intractable cases. The relief to clients has been invaluable, allowing them to move on with their lives, making affordable mortgage payments.

AIB Group’s Head of Financial Solutions Brendan O’Connor said the pilot had delivered significantly for custimers who otherwise may not have had the confidence to engage with the bank. He added that the IMHO had offered these people a “new channel”.

The service is available to customers free of charge, with help provided over the phone, online or in person.

Read: Do you have an AIB, EBS or Haven mortgage? Good news!>

Read: Thinking of saving for a house? Here’s what to expect>

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9 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute jason stenson
    Favourite jason stenson
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    Nov 4th 2014, 1:13 PM

    I’m one of these 400 and I tell you they work, no fixes or gimmicks, can’t thank them enough

    34
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    Mute Plantation Watch
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    Nov 4th 2014, 2:07 PM

    How far are you in arrears? ie how many payments have you missed?

    5
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    Mute Larry L'Oiseau
    Favourite Larry L'Oiseau
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    Nov 4th 2014, 9:00 AM

    “Are due to be decisioned” ?

    24
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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
    Favourite Neal Ireland Hello
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    Nov 4th 2014, 9:06 AM

    That’s how the hip young people talk nowadays.

    11
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    Mute Goban Saor
    Favourite Goban Saor
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    Nov 4th 2014, 2:11 PM

    Alternative headline: 400 Families denied a chance to buy a home because people who can’t pay mortgage insist on staying in a house they can’t afford

    21
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    Mute ColindeB
    Favourite ColindeB
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    Nov 4th 2014, 1:31 PM

    Losing the debt but keeping the asset? This is so dense and encourages debtors to be irresponsible.

    If you can’t afford your accommodation, you leave it and find accommodation you can afford. Tenants do it every day of the week with spiraling rents in Dublin.

    20
    E
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    Mute E
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    Nov 4th 2014, 12:54 PM

    “Saved form homelessness” with “Long term Resolutions”.
    More like PR stunt with unsustainable Resolution.
    Talk to you in a few years when interest rates and other taxes and charges go up.

    11
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    Mute E
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    Nov 4th 2014, 1:11 PM

    It’s a known fact that the banks are not stress testing these so called “long term sustainable resolutions”.
    They are just cooking the books again so that they can pretend that they are solvent.
    Rewind repeat.
    Rewind repeat.

    10
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    Mute peter
    Favourite peter
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    Nov 4th 2014, 1:43 PM

    How many lost their homes though?

    4
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