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Servicing, Arrears and Enforcement

Canadian servicing, missed-payment, discharge, and enforcement terms for residential mortgages.

This section covers what happens after the mortgage has already funded. The emphasis is on payment administration, arrears language, and the enforcement concepts borrowers may see if the mortgage falls seriously behind.

Servicing Map

StageWhat it usually meansStart with
Routine account reviewThe borrower is checking balance, payment application, or ongoing servicing detailsMortgage Statement
Approved short-term reliefThe lender has agreed to a temporary payment accommodationPayment Holiday
Past-due statusA required payment was not made in full and the file is behindArrears
Mortgage exit or lender changeThe mortgage is being removed from title or replacedMortgage Discharge Fee
Serious enforcementThe file has moved beyond collections into a sale or legal-remedy discussionPower of Sale

Use This Section When

  • you need to understand routine servicing language after closing
  • you are reading statements, discharge fees, or payment records
  • the mortgage is behind and you need calm definitions of arrears or enforcement terms
  • you want to know how these concepts differ across lender procedure, province, or contract wording

Start Here

Common Reader Paths

Why This Section Matters

Borrowers under stress need clear language, not fear-based writing. These pages explain the terms calmly and note where treatment varies by province, lender procedure, and contract wording.

Continue to Nearby Sections

In this section

  • Arrears
    Status of being behind on required mortgage payments, creating collection and enforcement risk.
  • Mortgage Discharge Fee
    Fee charged when a mortgage is formally released from title after payout or lender change.
  • Mortgage Statement
    Periodic lender statement showing balance, payments, interest, and other servicing details.
  • Payment Holiday
    Temporary payment-relief option that usually defers rather than removes interest and cost.
  • Power of Sale
    Province-sensitive remedy that lets a lender sell property after serious default in some jurisdictions.
Revised on Friday, April 24, 2026