Petition · past parliament

Ask the banks, we bailed out, to bail us out. Freeze debt and mortgages #covid19

Rejected 21 signatures

What the petition asks

Public funds bailed out banks in their time of crisis. It's the public's turn now.

With the coronavirus (COVID-19) restricting work & earnings. We need the banks to allow debt repayments to be frozen.

We also need landlords to freeze rent; enabled by the relief from frozen mortgage repayments.
The government has the power to enforce change. If banks and landlords were required to comply, this would only mean a hit to their profit. This only needs to be in place whilst isolation policies are running. A few months.

This will prevent mass repossession of property, a crash in property prices (as sold by banks), and a spending crisis which would damage our economy for years.

Why it was rejected

It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.

Suspending payments for mortgages and loans is a matter for individual mortgage providers and lenders, and not the UK Government or Parliament.

You can find out about asking for a mortgage holiday from lenders here: https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/mortgages-coronavirus-consumers

You can find out about what Government support is available for people as a result of coronavirus (under the section on employment and financial support) here: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

If you want the Government to encourage lenders, landlords and utilities to freeze payments during lockdown, you may wish to sign this petition: Encourage lenders, landlords and utilities to freeze payments during lockdown

If you want the Government to implement Universal Basic Income to give home and food security during the coronavirus outbreak, you may also wish to sign this petition: Implement Universal Basic Income to give home & food security through Covid-19

You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:
www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips

Timeline

17 Mar 2020 Petition opened for signatures
26 Mar 2020 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 21
Status Rejected
Rejected 26 Mar 2020

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.