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The Council of Mortgage Lenders, Citizens Advice and Shelter have produced a ten-tip guide for those struggling with debt.

1. The groups say if you are in mortgage debt, talk to your lender. The earlier you tell your lender, the more options available to solve the problem. Options that your lender may consider include: extending the term of the mortgage, changing the type of mortgage, deferring interest payments for a short period, or treating any arrears as part of the original debt.

2. The indebted are reminded that there are many organisations which offer independent money advice such as Citizens Advice, Shelter, National Debtline, and the Consumer Credit Counselling Service. If you have debt problems just call - it’s free.

3. Plan ahead - the groups say if you are coming to the end of a fixed-rate mortgage in the near future start planning ahead for higher repayments and researching the best deals in the market - rates will be higher and there is no getting around it.

4. They also remind people that ignoring your debt problems will only make them worse.

5. A mortgage is a priority debt as if you don't pay this you could lose your home - the groups recommend debt advisers, who can help you plan your budget and pay your priority debts first.

6. If you can't afford your full mortgage repayments, you should talk to your lender and still pay what you can afford - many mortgages offer payment holidays and breaks to help the indebted.

7. Don't ignore letters or telephone calls from your lender; if you are not sure what they mean ask your lender or a debt adviser. The help groups advise opening all mail that is addressed to you because you need to be in the know and on top of your problems to be able to solve them.

8. Always attend any court hearings yourself. Court proceedings do not mean that you will automatically lose your home, they merely act as a final check to make sure repossession is the last resort. Some courts have advice desks and schemes which can provide last minute assistance to those with chronic debt problems.

9. If you are struggling with mortgage repayments you may be tempted to send the keys to your lender or abandon your property - don’t do it. Just because you hand the keys back doesn’t mean your name is removed from the deeds. It’s still your home and you are still answerable for it.

10. Selling your home and renting it back might seem like a quick fix to your debt problems, but many of these schemes offer very little security. They are also not regulated so you will not have access to the same protections as a mortgage holder. There are many other debt solutions out there, and with the right help and advice you can find them.

Michael Coogan, director general of the CML says: "The first step for anyone struggling to pay their mortgage is to contact their lender and get advice. There are a range of options your lender can consider to help reduce or reschedule your payments for a period of time while you get back on your feet.”

Adam Sampson, chief executive of Shelter says: "Getting advice quickly is crucial in helping struggling homeowners keep a roof over their head. At Shelter we often see people when it's too late, but the loss of their home could have been prevented if they had sought our help early on.”

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