Under proposals being put forward by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), people who own Bristol property may be subject to new legal protection.
The government department has launched a consultation concerning whether mortgage lenders should have to obtain a court order or the consent of the borrower before repossessing and selling residential owner-occupied homes.
If the changes are agreed upon, the MoJ - which is one of the largest departments, employing around 95,000 people and operating with a budget of around £9.2 billion - will ensure that the procedures for repossessing houses and flats would be enshrined in law.
Currently, home loan providers are encouraged to follow such procedures when repossessing a home from someone who cannot keep up with their repayments but they are not required to do so legally.
The proposals relate only to residential owner-occupied property in Bristol and would not impact on buy-to-let mortgages or other commercial loans.
