Closed petition Guidelines Regarding Mortgages and Domestic Violence and Abuse

Closed on 11 July 2013

There appears to be a loop-hole in guidelines re;Mortgages. Currently if you sign a joint mortgage agreement & 1 individual leaves/is forced out of the property, both individuals are equally responsible for the mortgage. This itself appears fair, however for the individual who’s had to leave the property, removing their name from the mortgage can cost over £6,000 & needing both parties consent.
For victims of abuse this can cause distress, financial hardship, even homelessness. There’s additional stress of joint financial liability for any damage caused to the property & missed payments by the residing individual.
I’d like to propose the government looks at an exit strategy for people in these circumstances so they’re not controlled by the perpetrator via the mortgage, with a view to setting a guideline time limit where an individual can remove their name without incurring huge legal fees, capping of fees, & without causing further distress due to the Domestic Abuse Situation.