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Handing Houses Back To Banks...

Homeowners handing their houses back to the banks...


HOMEOWNERS who can no longer afford to pay the mortgage are voluntarily giving up the keys to their property as they see no other way out of the debt
, according to a housing charity.

Respond warned that many people in negative equity did not think it was worth trying to sell the house to repay the debt as there was no market for it.

These people are simply handing their houses back to the banks, the charity said, with some leaving the country and others moving back home with family.

Respond spokeswoman Aoife Walsh said figures for repossessions in the courts did not accurately reflect what is happening on the ground.

"Many people are feeling hopeless because of the collapse of the housing market. They are simply handing back the keys of their home to their lender as there is no prospect of selling the home to repay the debt," she said.

"These cases are rarely reported and we suspect there may be far more ‘voluntary surrenders’ taking place than anyone is aware of."

Ms Walsh said Respond was receiving calls from people enquiring about their eligibility for local authority housing.

"These people are worried if they will be eligible for local authority housing or not.

"It is up to the discretion of each area, but they are generally accepted."

However with more than 50,000 people on the housing list, Ms Walsh said they could be waiting a long time.

"In the meantime they are moving in with family, or looking for cheap rental accommodation," she said.

Ms Walsh also said many were leaving the country.

"There was 18 repossession orders in courts this week.

"None of the property owners were in court and neighbours were saying they had simply left – some had left the country."



Report by Jennifer Hough - Irish Examiner

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