Home is where the heart is: how mortgage advice can support you during difficult circumstances

Buying a new home is a huge milestone and securing a mortgage can be stressful enough on its own. Life can also get in the way, throwing you curveballs and new challenges to overcome.

Finding your dream property or looking at a remortgage is the first step in what can be a long process. At any moment things could change – dealing with health worries, facing job uncertainty, childcare, separation, divorce, or coping with bereavement. These are more common situations than many people think, and they can all have an impact on how we make financial decisions.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, the idea of sorting out your mortgage can feel like one task too many. That’s why seeking advice can be so valuable; not just for access to rates, but for the extra support it can offer.

Vulnerability isn’t a bad word

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) recognises that all of us can experience vulnerability at different times in life, even if you don’t consider yourself to be a generally ‘vulnerable’ person. Life events like illness, loss, or significant stress can take an emotional and physical toll which, in turn, can make it harder to absorb information, weigh up options, or feel confident about choices.

That’s where good advice comes in.

What we can do

·        Explain everything clearly, avoid jargon, and check whether you understand so you can feel confident in financial decisions.

·        Adapt pace and communication style to suit how you feel at different times.

·       Offer flexibility in meetings or conversations, even involving a trusted friend or family member if that would help.

·        Make sure you’re getting the right outcomes to suit your needs.

·        Keep your long-term interests in focus, even when you feel like you can only deal with the here and now.

We’re there to help lighten the load, providing someone in your corner who understands that good advice isn’t just about rates and repayments; it’s about helping you feel in control of one of the biggest decisions of your life.

Approved by The Openwork Partnership on 25/09/25

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.