Mortgage increases 'were horrendous'

Mr Bates' mortgage repayments soared by £600 a month

A scheme aimed at stopping thousands losing their homes is being extended across England.

Father-of-four Jeff Bates, 50, from Havering, east London, was helped after his mortgage payments soared by up to £600 a month.

The problem started back in March 2007 when my fixed rate deal ran out.

I had three increases and by the third payment it had gone up from £800 a month to nearly £1,400 - it was horrendous.

This scheme gives me lots of light at the end of the tunnel and fills me with hope again

I've lived in this house now for nearly 15 years and to lose it would be absolutely dreadful.

So I phoned [the mortgage broker] and asked if I could have six months back at the £800 a month, but they flatly refused. It's just been ongoing since then.

The Citizens Advice Bureau requested the arrears sheets [from the broker] because they wanted to see how they had arrived at the figure they had.

In November 2005 I lost my wife Kerry, so it's been really horrendous times.

It's been such a worry that I would lose the house and not find somewhere where we can go, but we've really pulled together.

Huge relief

Recently I heard about this scheme so I contacted Havering Council and they've been in touch now with [the mortgage broker].

It will be an absolute buyout and then I will rent back off the housing association, so they will actually settle the mortgage.

I feel fine because it means I get to stay in my house and my children get to stay in here as well.

And it means everything can stay in the property.

Repossession is frightening, it's absolutely frightening. The options are quite horrendous to be honest.

But this scheme gives me lots of light at the end of the tunnel and fills me with hope again.

It's just a relief that I'm going to keep the house and get to keep the family together.