Saving David from eviction

“Without our urgent action and coordinated advice, David would almost certainly have been made bankrupt and lost his home.”

David* had recently returned to work after a period of ill health but had fallen behind on his mortgage. With no entitlement to benefits and no dependents, he was facing court action and urgently needed advice and representation.

The situation was serious: the mortgage was already on a suspended possession order which had been breached, and the lender had applied for a warrant of eviction. At the same time, another creditor had issued a petition for his bankruptcy. Both actions put David’s home at risk, and losing it would not only have meant homelessness, but also the likely loss of his new job and a decline in his health.

His EMMA adviser contacted his creditor to negotiate and worked closely with a housing adviser, who was able to represent David in court to suspend the eviction. The creditor agreed to withdraw the petition and accept an affordable payment arrangement. Although the hearing still went ahead, we represented David, and the Judge confirmed the petition would not proceed. With help from family, David was also able to reduce the debt below £5,000 if needed. This resolution meant he could clear the mortgage arrears in full, stopping the eviction, and with his new job, he is now able to maintain regular monthly payments.

Without our urgent action and coordinated advice, David would almost certainly have been made bankrupt and lost his home. Instead, he is now financially stable and able to move forward with his life.

*Name has been changed for confidentiality purposes.

Lina’s fresh start through a Debt Relief Order

Lina* is a single parent raising her a 13 and 20-year-old whilst not working and relying on Universal Credit, Child Benefit, and Disability Living Allowance for her daughter. The family’s financial struggles meant Lina often turned to foodbanks just to get by.

Following her divorce, debts began to build. Parking fines from taking her daughter to medical appointments added to the pressure, and arrears from the relationship breakdown pushed her total debts to around £26,000. On her new income there wasn’t enough money to cover the household costs. Lina felt overwhelmed and unable to cope.

Lina was referred to us by her council. Her electricity was at risk of disconnection due to her debt, so her adviser placed her into a Breathing Space, stopping all creditor contact, something that had been causing her significant stress and affecting her mental health.

She was then referred for a Debt Relief Order (DRO). Once approved, all her debts were included, bringing her monthly payments to creditors to an end. This left Lina financially stable, allowing her to cover her essential costs and regain a sense of control.

Thanks to EMMAs support, Lina no longer faces the constant pressure of unmanageable debt and has been able to put her family’s finances back on track.

*Name has been changed for confidentiality purposes.

“Lina felt overwhelmed and unable to cope.”

Hassan’s Path to a Fresh Start

“Thanks to this support, Hassan can now look ahead with far less stress”

Hassan* arrived distressed about his debts and feeling there was nowhere left to turn. He lives alone in a council-rented property and relies on his daughter for support, as he has no internet access and experiences anxiety about leaving home. Living with both mental and physical health conditions, Hassan’s only income was from Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment.

His debts included council tax arrears, which caused him the greatest worry due to the threat of enforcement action and its impact on his mental health. Alongside this, his non-priority debts had all reached default stage, and formal debt collection had begun. The stress was badly affecting his health, leaving him with sleepless nights and increasing his anxiety.

We adjusted support to meet Hassan’s needs, including sending pre-call text messages and marking letters clearly so he knew they were safe to open. In his appointment, we explained enforcement and bailiff procedures, discussed all suitable options and reassured him throughout. He was also signposted to the Severn Trent Big Difference Scheme, the Household Support Fund, and referred to an inhouse Benefits Service for a Council Tax Support application.

Hassan chose to proceed with a Debt Relief Order. With his daughter’s support, he brought the paperwork into our office within days, and we quickly referred his case to our DRO unit.

Thanks to this support, Hassan can now look ahead with far less stress, and he shared his gratitude for finally being able to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

*Name has been changed for confidentiality purposes.

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