Britons 'faced with mortgage troubles'

UK homeowners are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with their mortgage arrears, it has been claimed.

Problems faced by householders in Britain have increased by some 35 per cent in the first two months of 2008, according to new figures from the Citizens Advice Bureaux.

Along with people in need of mortgage help, difficulties have also been expressed with regard to essentials such as gas, electricity, water and council tax debts.

One of the reasons cited by the Citizens Advice Bureaux for such difficulties is the increasing cost of living in the UK, while credit, store and charge cards are the biggest form of debt.

Teresa Perchard, director of policy for Citizens Advice, stated: "It is a worrying trend that our bureaux are reporting a very sharp increase in the number of mortgage arrears problems they are dealing with.

"The combination of big increases in household bills, especially fuel, and rising housing costs is putting additional pressure on people's finances when they are already stretched to the limit."

People may consider shopping around for a new mortgage product or a consolidation loan in order to cope with the increasing cost of living.

The Citizens Advice Bureaux recently highlighted the fact that the cost of prescriptions is also a problem faced by many Britons and can often act as a barrier to health.