A disturbing study of women who had held a joint mortgage in the past two years has found that one in eight have experienced financial abuse from a current or former partner.
The Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) charity last year revealed how offenders used joint mortgages to plunge victims into debt and homelessness.
The SEA subsequently called for the establishment of a cross-government working group on financial abuse to work with financial services, legal and domestic abuse experts to strengthen protections for victim survivors and stop perpetrators using syndicated mortgages to exert control.
In November 2025, the government published its financial inclusion strategy, which it said had been “developed to focus on cross-cutting themes such as mental health, access and financial abuse”.
Once cases of financial abuse are identified, a more personalized approach is needed
The strategy states that the government will “work with key stakeholders, including industry and the Financial Conduct Authority, to explore how syndicated mortgages can be used as a tool of abuse and how to better support victim survivors”.
Commenting on its own role, the FCA explained: “Domestic financial abuse has a huge impact on the lives of those who experience it. That’s why we work closely with government, industry and organizations like the SEA to better understand and respond to the experiences of victim-survivors.”
Sarah Tucker, founder and CEO of Mortgage Mum, believes that the launch of the financial inclusion strategy is a very important step. She said it was a final admission that the syndicated mortgage abuses observed by many brokers were happening quietly behind the scenes.
“This problem is real,” Tucker stressed.
“This is devastating and takes away people’s control and confidence in their financial future.”
Broker’s Intuition
Tucker added that the government’s recognition of the problem is a step forward, but it alone is not enough.
She said: “We now need clearer, practical guidance so lenders and advisers know what to do when something doesn’t feel right. For advisers, this hits close to home.”
No signs of abuse should be ignored. Experience tells me that our intuition is usually correct
Advisors are often the first person a client talks to about their financial situation and are sometimes the only professional who hears the full story.
Tucker continued: “We build real emotional connections with our customers, and we should be trained to listen not only to what our customers say, but also to what their silent actions may be telling us.
“The advisors I know have incredible intuition – something that will become even more valuable as AI plays a greater role in the process. This intuition needs to be nurtured, protected and encouraged because it is irreplaceable.
“It is also one of the clearest reminders of why advisers remain vital to the mortgage process, particularly when it comes to identifying syndicated mortgage abuse risks.”
Support framework
Many advisors are already doing this work, but Tucker said they need to feel supported.
“We need frameworks to be able to talk to each applicant individually, training to help us recognize subtle red flags, and clear escalation routes when our gut tells us something isn’t right.”
She added: “On the surface, syndicated mortgage abuse is not always noticeable. Often it looks like a customer who has gone quiet, a partner who answers every question, or someone who simply says ‘yes’ because they feel they can’t say no. As an industry, we can do more to ensure these people are seen, heard and protected. The will is there, but now the structures need to catch up.”
Samantha Lindsay, founder of My Mortgage Angel and mortgage and protection adviser, said to ensure financial abuse is curbed, agents should take the time to understand each client’s situation.
There are signs that more cases are being disclosed, so some work needs to be done to ensure practical help is available
She notes: “Any signs of abuse, whether physical, emotional or financial, should never be ignored, and experience has taught me that our instincts are usually right. If an agent sees anything suspicious, they would be wise to try to speak to the client individually. Ideally face-to-face so they can be confident that no one else is in the room applying pressure.”
Lindsay added: “If agents are concerned about an individual’s welfare they should contact an organization such as a refuge or Women’s Aid and report it to the police.”
Lender’s location
Obviously, brokers have a huge responsibility to try to spot signs of financial abuse that often go unnoticed, but lenders have a role to play, too.
If a person is forced to pay their mortgage by an abusive partner, it may be difficult for the lender to find out if the monthly payments are being made. However, if these payments are not met, Lindsay suggests it is the lender’s responsibility to carefully explore the reasons behind this.
She said: “If lenders are aware of this situation, they should work with borrowers to find a solution that works for everyone, while remaining sensitive to the very fragile situation. If lenders are aware that any form of mortgage abuse is taking place, they should report it.”
This is one of the clearest reminders of why advisers remain vital to the mortgage journey
For those who have been victims of mortgage abuse, it is encouraging that more lenders are now accepting borrowers with credit problems.
“If an individual has no control over their finances, we can often see unusual spending patterns on their bank statements, and credit reports can also reveal any ‘hidden’ accounts that the customer is not aware of,” explains Lindsay.
collective effort
L&C Mortgages associate director David Hollingworth believes a collective effort is needed to prevent financial abuse.
He said: “I have seen examples where borrowers have tried to sever their mortgage relationship with their abuser but have had difficulty making this happen.
“It is difficult for lenders to strike the balance between ensuring practical help is provided to those in need while demonstrating ongoing affordability. Once cases of financial abuse are identified, a more personalized approach is required.”
Hollingworth added: “We have worked hard to provide internal training designed to help counselors identify potential cases of abuse.
Syndicated mortgage abuse isn’t always noticeable on the surface
“There are signs that more cases are being disclosed, so some work needs to be done to ensure that practical help is provided.”
Lenders including Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Starling Bank and TSB are working with the SEA to seek help in tackling such abuses.
Earlier this year, HSBC launched an initiative to combat the financial abuse of more than 4 million women, including 750,000 who are trapped in exploitative joint mortgages.
SEA is providing training to staff at HSBC and First Direct to help them spot signs of financial abuse and provide support to customers who have experienced such treatment.
The lender has also announced a partnership with another charity, Money Advice Plus, to introduce a financial abuse evidence form to support customers who have experienced abuse through secured loans such as United Mortgages.
Faye Byrne, head of UK support banking at HSBC, said: “Many companies across the sector have made meaningful progress, such as partnerships with charities, colleague training and product fixes, showing real commitment.
We now need clearer, practical guidance so lenders and advisers know what to do when something doesn’t feel right
“That said, the problem is systemic and complex: not every company has the same capabilities or consistency. There is room for faster, more standardized action, particularly the exploration of credit profile remediation for forced debt, consistent frontline training and proactive identification so that survivors receive predictable, effective help, regardless of provider.
“The constructive way forward is collective: progress will be faster if the sector shares best practice, coordinates with charities and regulators, and implements similar safeguards.”
regulatory role
While progress in combating financial abuse in all areas of the mortgage market is positive, there is still room for improvement.
Jeremy Duncombe, managing director at Accord Mortgages, explained that regulators “play an important role in setting clear expectations and guidance, supported by real-world case studies that illustrate companies’ responses, both good and bad”.
Duncombe believes that sharing real-world case studies ensures that courses are based on experience, not just theory.
“This approach promotes consistency across the industry and, most importantly, leads to better outcomes for survivors, ensuring they are treated with dignity, compassion and fairness at every stage,” he said.
The problem is real. It takes away people’s control and confidence in their financial future
Duncombe also believes the government’s recognition of financial abuse reflects a growing recognition that it is not just a financial issue but profoundly affects people’s families, security and wellbeing.
“That’s why we welcome the focus on addressing this issue and are reviewing the details to understand how it aligns with our existing approach and where further collaboration may be needed,” he said.
“Awareness is an important first step. As an industry, we need to work together to create consistent, customer-focused solutions that give brokers and lenders the confidence to take action and help people feel safe and supported.”
Achieve positive change and financial independence
Mortgage abuse can take different forms. Domestic violence survivor Cheryl Sharp knows this impact all too well.
After leaving an abusive marriage, Sharp founded her own accounting firm, Pink Pig Financials, to support other domestic violence survivors, female business owners and organizations in achieving positive change and financial independence.
Sharp said: “In relationships where both parties are on the mortgage, victims of abuse may feel trapped, unable to leave, burdened with financial dependence and responsibility. This lack of financial independence is often a key reason why many people remain in abusive relationships.
Abusers use financial control as a means of power
“Conversely, when an abusive partner leaves the home and stops paying their mortgage, the victim may be in serious financial difficulty. This can lead to increased debt, severe emotional stress and long-term damage to their credit and stability.
“In both cases, the abuser uses financial control as a means of power, with devastating psychological and financial consequences for the victim.”
This article appears in the December 2025/January 2026 edition Mortgage strategy.
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