It may seem daunting but the best first step to tackling mortgage arrears is to contact your lender. They will be able to advise you of the support they can offer to help tackle your arrears.
Depending on the type of mortgage product you have the lender may be able to provide you with a payment holiday which can help if you are experiencing a short-term reduction in income. Some providers can temporarily switch your re-payments to the interest amount only, to assist with affordability. They can also help you work out a repayment offer on any arrears you have.
Mortgage providers are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and have a duty to customers with financial difficulties to treat them fairly. This requires them to assess your financial situation and work with you to try find a reasonable solution.
You may have an income and mortgage protection insurance policy to help cover your mortgage costs in the event of losing your job or becoming unwell. Check any policies as soon as possible to see if you are able to make a claim against them to help support your payments. The insurance provider will be able to advise if you're eligible to claim against the policy you hold.