The FCA has extended the national mortgage holiday but it can’t last forever

Repayment holidays will help borrowers through Covid-19 cash flow crises, writes James Moore, but if the economy doesn’t bounce back some of them will become full-blown cash crises

Forced sales? Repossessions have temporarily been suspended (Getty)

You’re probably not going away this year, even if you can afford to. But there may be a little more sunshine at home if you can’t, thanks to the Financial Conduct Authority extending the national mortgage repayment holiday.

Borrowers in financial difficulty who haven’t started one now have until 31 October to apply. The blanket ban on home repossessions is also being extended to that date.

Some lenders have already gone further – the Nationwide Building Society, for example, last month said no mortgage holder impacted by Covid-19 would lose their home for the next 12 months.