A judge at Birmingham County Court has told a couple from Shrewsbury that they can remain in their family home indefinitely after exchanging it in a sale and rent back scheme.
Paul and Amanda Jackson were forced into entering the scheme with Repossessions Stopped after falling behind on their mortgage payments. They were told by the firm that they could remain in the property indefinitely.
However, just two years after the agreement, the firm issued the couple with an eviction notice after falling behind on its own mortgage payments on the property, prompting the family to take legal action.
Mr Jackson said: "We took that option (sale and rent back) to provide security but we felt as if everything was being stolen from us."
The case was brought to the court by the housing charity Shelter who celebrated the landmark case as the first of its kind.
Shelter's principal solicitor John Gallagher said: "This is a huge and important victory for not only the Jackson family but everyone who is tempted by these sale and rent back schemes."
Copyright © Press Association 2009