Mortgage forbearance request (MCOB 13 / Mortgage Charter)

Request to a mortgage lender for forbearance options under FCA MCOB 13 and the Mortgage Charter — payment holiday, interest-only switch, or term extension.

Draft template. This letter is being reviewed by a regulated solicitor before publication. You can use it now as a starting point, but read the surrounding guide carefully and consider getting free legal advice before sending.
Caveat (2026-06-15): The Mortgage Charter was a voluntary commitment by UK Finance signatory lenders launched June 2023 as a cost-of-living response. The Charter has been extended periodically; some specific options may be time-limited. Always check the current status at gov.uk/government/publications/mortgage-charter and your lender's specific commitments before relying on the no-affordability-check / no-credit-file-impact options.

Send this before you miss any payments where possible — the Mortgage Charter benefits (no affordability check, no credit-file impact) depend on early engagement and on the Charter remaining in force for your lender (see caveat above).

If you have already missed payments, you can still request forbearance — but the lender may treat the arrears differently. Get free debt advice from StepChange (0800 138 1111) or National Debtline (0808 808 4000) before agreeing to any change that increases the total amount you owe over time (such as a term extension or interest-only switch).

If the lender refuses without good reason or fails to consider the request properly, you can complain to the lender, then to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

AI cross-check (2026-06-15) — pending regulated solicitor sign-off

This letter cites the following authority, which the AI has checked against current GOV.UK / legislation.gov.uk:

  • FCA MCOB 13.3 (Mortgage Conduct of Business — arrears and repossessions): confirmed currently in force. MCOB 13.3.1R requires lenders to consider whether a customer's circumstances allow for forbearance before proceeding with arrears or repossession action. Correctly cited.
  • Mortgage Charter (2023): the voluntary Mortgage Charter was introduced in June 2023, signed by the majority of UK lenders (covering approximately 90% of the residential mortgage market). It commits signatories to offer interest-only switches for 6 months (no affordability check, no credit-file impact), term extensions, and a 12-month repossession moratorium. Review periodically — the Charter is a voluntary commitment, not statute.
  • 12-month repossession moratorium before proceedings: confirmed as a Mortgage Charter commitment — lenders committed not to commence repossession proceedings for at least 12 months from the first missed payment. This is a Charter commitment, not a statutory requirement.
  • No credit-file impact for Charter forbearance: confirmed as a Charter commitment for interest-only switches and term extensions under the 2023 Charter. Note: this applies to Charter-eligible borrowers; some lenders may vary their approach for borrowers already in arrears.

Reviewer focus areas: (1) CRITICAL — Verify whether the Mortgage Charter is still in force in 2026 or whether it has been extended, modified, or replaced by regulation. The original Charter was introduced as a temporary cost-of-living measure in 2023; it may have been time-limited. (2) Confirm which lenders remain Mortgage Charter signatories as of 2026. (3) Confirm whether MCOB 13 has been updated in any Consumer Duty (PS22/9) guidance since the Consumer Duty came into force in July 2023. (4) Verify that the 12-month moratorium commitment remains in place or has expired.

This AI cross-check is an aid only; final sign-off requires a regulated solicitor.

Your details

Job loss, illness, rising interest costs, separation, etc.

E.g. "6 months", "3 years term extension".

Email, phone (with best times), or post.

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Disclaimer

This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. You should seek qualified legal help if your situation requires it.