My mortgage is going up and I cannot afford it

If your mortgage is rising and you cannot afford it, act early. Two things help: line up a new deal before your fix ends so you do not drift onto the expensive standard variable rate, and, if you are already struggling, contact your lender, who must treat you fairly and can offer options.

First, do not bury your head

A rising payment is stressful, and the worst move is to do nothing until a payment is missed. If your fixed rate is ending soon, the jump is usually because you are about to move from an old low rate to today's rates, or have already slipped onto the lender's standard variable rate. Sorting a new deal early often softens the blow a lot. Work out the size of the change with the payment-shock calculator, then look at your options.

Your options

• Arrange a new rate before your deal ends: see what happens when my fixed rate ends.
• Compare staying with your lender against remortgaging: the switch or stay tool shows the totals.
• Consider a longer term to lower the monthly payment, weighing the extra interest over time.
• If a lender has said the numbers do not work, that may just be their rules: see declined on affordability.

If you are already in difficulty

If you are at risk of missing a payment, contact your lender. Lenders are required to treat customers in financial difficulty fairly and can discuss options to help. Free, impartial debt help is also available from services such as MoneyHelper and Citizens Advice. Talking to someone early keeps the most options open.