Your case can be adjourned for a number of reasons. For example:
•    the Master needed more information to make a decision,
•    you needed time to raise a lump sum to pay off all or some of your arrears,
•    you were selling your home and needed time to complete the sale.

If you have mortgage arrears, you may have to pay a certain amount each week as a condition of the case being adjourned. It is very important to stick to these conditions. If you don't, the Master is more likely to make a possession order when your case goes back to court. The Master should explain the conditions, and you should get written confirmation in the post when a copy of the order is posted to you. If it isn't clear, get advice.

Your case may have been adjourned indefinitely, also known as adjourned generally – this may happen if your arrears fall beneath a certain level. You case may also be adjourned for a fixed period of time. In either situation, you have the right to stay in your home until a final decision is made or you pay off the money you owe. You may have been given a date for another hearing when the case was adjourned, or your lender may have to apply for a new hearing after a certain amount of time or if your circumstances change.

If the Master made a suspended possession order, you can stay in your home as long as you keep to certain conditions. The conditions should be explained in the order, but if it isn't clear, contact a local advice agency. In many cases, it will say that you have to pay a certain amount off your arrears each month and keep up with your ongoing mortgage payments. When you have paid off the arrears, you simply need to continue to pay your normal monthly payments when they are due.

If you don't keep to the conditions of a suspended possession order, you can lose your home. For example, if you miss even one payment, your lender is entitled to reapply to the court to repossess your home, although it is possible that the lender will wait and see if several payments are missed before proceeding with the court case. If you think you are likely to have problems sticking to the conditions of a suspended possession order, you should contact your lender and/or an advice agency immediately. Don't put off dealing with the situation, as your lender may be able to repossess your home if you don't come to an agreement.

Even if the situation seems hopeless, an adviser may be able to help you find a solution. For example, if you have lost your job it may be possible to get the conditions of the order changed to make the repayments more manageable. If you want to change the conditions of an order, you will need to apply to the court and may have to pay a fee. Check with the NI Courts Service for the exact amount of this fee.