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UK Home Owner Loan
Guide
A home owner loan is any loan
that requires the borrower to provide the lender with some form of security. In
this case the security will be your property.
Home owner loans are available in
varying amounts and for many different purposes e.g. car, boat, new carpets,
furniture, paying off credit cards, debt consolidation and any other debts. The
amount borrowed usually varies from £1,000 upwards and is dependent on the
equity you have in your property and the lenders view of your ability to repay
the loan. The amount borrowed is usually repaid over a period of between 3 - 25
years.
Lenders charge interest rates on
the amount borrowed. These are sometimes fixed but for homeowner loans are
usually variable. If the rate is variable the rates change with market forces
and could change the amount you repay. As a general guide it is advisable to
compare the annual percentage rate (APR) of different lenders. Home owner loan
rates tend to lower than unsecured loans as the lender has your property as
security.
Lending institutions offer you
the option of taking a homeowner loan either over the phone, via written
application or on-line. Initial assessments can be made quickly although for
regulated loans (those under £25,000) a 7 day consideration period must be
given so you are fully aware of the implications of the home owner loan. When
assessing applications the lender will collate together your income and
financial commitments to see if you can afford to take on the home owner loan.
They also look at any adverse credit or mortgage arrears and the equity in your
property. All lenders insist on married couples both being named on the loan
application form. Subject to circumstances you may be able to borrow up to 125%
of your property value.
Lenders frequently use credit
scoring facilities and credit reference agencies to assess your suitability.
Credit scoring assesses your personal statistics, for example your age and
occupation and each statistic is given a score. Credit reference agencies
provide a detailed analysis of your own financial position.
If you are refused a home owner
loan or wish to make enquiries concerning your own credit file you can apply to
the credit reference agencies for a copy of your credit file. A small fee will
be charged for this service. Details can be obtained through your chosen
lender.
A home owner loan is subject to
The Consumer Credit Act. The Act contains strict regulations about how much
money is lent and covers loans up to the value of £25,000. When taking out
a home owner loan you will be asked to sign a credit agreement. Read this
carefully before you sign as you will be bound by its terms. Some lenders offer
insurance policies or payment protection schemes to protect you in the event of
accident, illness or redundancy. However, cover may vary and you should check
with your individual lender what a particular policy or scheme covers, or more
importantly, excludes.
If you do have difficulty making
any repayments, seek advice from your lender immediately. The earlier the
better and the more sympathetic they will be. For example, they may accept an
underpayment until you get yourself back on your feet. Alternatively, you can
seek advice from a voluntary organisation.
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