BREAKING: Mortgage holiday extension to include landlords, HM Treasury confirms

Earlier today the ministry revealed that home owners could apply for mortgage holiday for a further four months, but has now told LandlordZONE that this is to include buy-to-let loans.

HM Treasury has confirmed to LandlordZONE that its mortgage holiday extension for home owners announced early this morning is to also include landlords with buy-to-let loans.

None of the guidelines and announcements earlier today from both the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and HM Treasury mentioned mortgage relief for landlords but, after chasing around several government departments, a Treasury spokesperson has confirmed to us that the extended mortgage holiday scheme will include buy-to-let products.

Also, like the home owner loans, landlords will be protected from having their properties repossessed if they fall behind in their mortgage payments, until the Coronavirus crisis is over.

HM Treasury and the FCA jointly announced this morning that home owners – and now landlords – are to be offered a three-month mortgage holiday for a further four months, although landlords should remember that the ‘holiday’ is in reality a payment deferment that accrues interest.

The original scheme was due to run out at the end of June but is now to finish at the end of October, although the FCA says property owners should return to paying their mortgages where possible.

The FCA is to consult with lenders until 26th May on the proposals and then introduce the extended schemes.

Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “We welcome this announcement. Extension of the mortgage deferment scheme will enable landlords with mortgages to continue to provide flexibility to tenants who are struggling to pay their rents.

“The NRLA continues to campaign for further support to ensure tenants can continue to pay their rents in the first place.  This includes increasing benefits to ensure they cover the cost of rents and Spanish style interest free loans for tenants in need of extra help.”

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