Philenews

Foreclosure Freeze for One Month Under New Government Bill

Published March 23, 2026, 14:20
Foreclosure Freeze for One Month Under New Government Bill

A bill being discussed in the Parliamentary Committee on Finance provides for a 30-day freeze on property foreclosure, giving borrowers additional time. The bill also provides for the possibility of debt settlement in cases of disagreement between borrower and lender, even if they have agreed on the amount of the debt. According to the bill, the debtor will be able to appeal to the Financial Commissioner earlier, receiving the 'I' letter instead of the 'IA' letter. Within 15 days, the two parties will have the opportunity to agree on the repayment amount, based on the Commissioner's decision. In addition, an insolvency advisor will be involved, who will examine the debtor's financial data and propose a repayment plan, either through the insolvency framework or through the courts. The regulation will apply to primary residences worth up to €350,000. The Ministry of Finance states that the bill makes the decisions of the Financial Commissioner binding for differences of up to €20,000 between consumer and financial institution. Within 21 days, any party may appeal to the court, which will decide on the implementation or modification of the Commissioner's decision. In case of non-compliance by the company, an administrative fine will be imposed.