This handbook is a practical guide for people having trouble with their mortgage. Getting behind on your repayments for a home loan is stressful. This handbook will help guide you to get a repayment arrangement in place with your lender. It explains your options and it has sample documents you can use and a list of useful contacts.
This 2024 publication is the 5th edition of the Mortgage Stress Handbook. It was written by the Financial Rights Legal Centre and Legal Aid Commission of NSW. The Mortgage Stress Handbook was first published in 2009 by Legal Aid NSW.
The Handbook is also available online at Legal Aid NSW where you can order a free copy.
Our 2023 Annual Report is now available.
New research from a coalition of advocacy groups has found the home and contents insurance market is failing to protect people against extreme weather events, with customers struggling to access and afford the insurance they need. The report, commissioned by CHOICE, Climate Council, Financial Counselling Australia, Financial Rights Legal Centre, and the Tenants’ Union of NSW, is based on a nationwide survey of home insurance policyholders, in depth interviews with people affected by extreme weather events, and interviews with key civil society groups.
In this podcast, Rebekah Wong, solicitor from the Financial Rights Legal Centre, talks with Legal Aid NSW about the free services offered by our financial counsellors and solicitors. Listen to the podcast.
In this podcast, Jane Wilburn, senior solicitor from the Financial Rights Legal Centre, talks with Legal Aid NSW about your rights with respect to dealing with Debt Collection Agencies. What you should know and how we can help. Listen to the podcast.
This year the Financial Rights team was focused on our goal: to provide advice and advocacy for people in financial stress. Our strategy to focus on quality rather than quantity paid off again this year. We had less staff and provided less services overall, but achieved a record amount in monetary outcomes for clients of over five millions dollars. Of course it is not always the monetary value that is attached to the outcome that is the most important. Our clients report life-changing impacts like finally sleeping at night, improvements in their health and relationships, keeping a roof over their head, being able to save for the future, being able to care for their children more effectively, or having the mental space to look for work or engage in education. For some the assistance is life-saving.