For many, especially those hit by ill health or redundancy during the recession, mortgage protection has been a godsend which prevented them from losing their homes. For others, the policy is merely an extra monthly cost which, while providing a certain amount of piece of mind, does not really work out as a worthwhile option for the cost involved. Here are the top dos and don’ts which could help you make mortgage protection work for you.

DO: Research and plan

Before deciding whether you want to opt for mortgage protection, you need to know a bit about your own finances, and what you might be expected to pay for a policy. Once you have sorted out a monthly budget for yourself, taking stock of your income and outgoings, as well as considering how flexible those finances are and the size of the mortgage you will need to take out, you can begin to get an idea of where you are financially and this can inform your decision on mortgage protection.

DON’T: Think you have to take out protection

You are not obliged to take out mortgage protection. Although you may be strongly advised to by policy providers, the choice is entirely up to you and you should not feel pressured into taking up an offer. Remember, if you do opt for the protection then you will be paying for the privilege every single month, whether or not you end up making a claim to help you with mortgage payments. An income protection policy may offer better cover for you.

DO: Shop around

Mortgage protection offers will vary greatly from provider to provider, so you will probably be able to find a better deal than the first offer, which is likely to be from your mortgage provider. Policies will normally set you back £3-7 per £100 of monthly mortgage cover, so you might be paying over £50 a month on protection. You can compare policies online, which means less hassle going from place to place, and it could save you thousands in the long run.

DON’T: Confuse mortgage protection with mortgage life insurance

Some people think their protection will cover them in all different eventualities, but it won’t. For example, Mortgage payment insurance and mortgage life insurance are two different things, and your mortgage protection will not support you in the case of the death of the breadwinner. However, some policies will allow you to add cover for extra things, such as bills, in cases where you may not be able to pay your mortgage.

DO: Read the small print

Your mortgage protection will have a number of important clauses you need to consider. For example, some policies will cover you for 12 months, other for 24. Also, you will not be covered if you take out the policy after finding out your job is at risk. There is also usually a ‘qualifying period’ of about three months before you can actually make a claim. Once you make a claim, there is usually a ‘deferred period’ before you get your first payment.

Author Bio: At Credit Choices you can compare mortgage protection offers, including NatWest mortgages, online. Whatever your individual mortgage protection needs, we can help you find the best deal.

Category: Real Estate
Keywords: mortgage protection,mortgage protection offers,natwest mortgages