Money Advice Direct
FREEPHONE 0800 074 6918
We receive a lot of calls and emails from the public asking; "Does it make a difference if I am a homeowner with an IVA?".
Please note that you can apply for an IVA whether you are a tenant, a homeowner or even if you are still living with your parents.
Please note that if you are a homeowner and there is equity in the property then you may need to release up to 75% of the equity over the IVA period.
In some IVA proposals your monthly IVA payment may be reduced if you are a homeowner because you can release some equity as part of the deal.
The prospect of releasing equity from your home is not a pleasant prospect but at least with an IVA you will be guaranteed to be debt free (subject to terms and conditions) after a set period. Unlike bankruptcy you also retain full control of your property.
If you are living in rented accommodation, there is no risk to your home in an IVA. You should however, check your tenancy agreement to ensure that the Landlord does not have a clause about tenants entering into an IVA.
If you live in mortgaged property, your creditors will want details of any equity that you have in the house. Equity is the difference between the value of your house and the amount of the loans secured against it.
As part of the IVA process, the Insolvency Practitioner will ask you to have your house valued. Your creditors are entitled to up to 75% of your share of the equity. You may be asked to release this money for the creditors benefit within the 5 years. This could be via a re-mortgage.
If there is little or no equity in the house at the start of the IVA, then you could still be asked to have the house valued in the 4th year of the arrangement and again up to 75% of your share of equity would be expected to be released for the benefit of the creditors.
If you would to know if it make a difference if you am a homeowner with an IVA or just discuss an IVA in general please complete the following form or telephone freephone 0800 074 6918.