Marko* is a man in his mid-70s who migrated to Australia from Europe and lives in Melbourne’s northern suburbs with his wife and young child. He owns his home outright and relies primarily on the Age Pension and Family Tax Benefit.
Several years ago, Marko incurred a special levy and penalties from his Owners Corporation. Due to limited financial literacy, he did not fully understand the debt or its consequences. Although he continued paying his regular fees, he could not afford the additional charges. Over time, penalties and legal costs accumulated, resulting in a
court judgment debt.
In September 2025, Marko received a Sheriff’s Warrant of Possession advising that his home could be sold at public auction if the debt was not paid within weeks. Despite the debt being relatively small compared to the value of the property, Marko and his family faced the risk of losing their home, causing significant stress and impacting his health and wellbeing.
Following an urgent referral through the National Debt Helpline, a Uniting financial counsellor assessed Marko’s situation and explored every available option to prevent repossession. This included investigating hardship arrangements, government assistance, legal protections and ways to access equity in his home.
The financial counsellor negotiated with the Owners Corporation’s legal representatives, prepared financial documentation and supported an application to the Magistrates’ Court for an instalment order. They also obtained specialist legal advice and helped Marko access utility relief, energy rebates and other financial supports.
The Magistrates’ Court granted an instalment order, preventing immediate enforcement action and providing time to secure a longer-term solution. The financial counsellor then successfully advocated with Services Australia to prioritise Marko’s Home Equity Access Scheme (HEAS) application due to the risk of homelessness.
The application to repay the debt through the HEAS was approved, enabling Marko to pay approximately $8,000 in debt, interest and legal costs. The warrant was withdrawn, his home was saved and additional financial assistance improved the family’s ongoing financial stability.
The financial counselling intervention prevented homelessness and protected Marko and his family from losing their home.
*Name and image changed for privacy reasons.
