Free tool
Mortgage hardship letter template
Answer a few questions and get a clear, one-page letter explaining your hardship to your mortgage servicer. Copy it, download it or print it. Nothing you type leaves this page.
Reviewed October 12, 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Your letter
[Your full name] [Property address] [Phone and email] October 12, 2026 [Your mortgage servicer] Loss Mitigation Department Re: Hardship letter and request for mortgage assistance Loan number: [write your loan number here by hand] Property: [Property address] To whom it may concern: I am writing to explain why I have fallen behind, or expect to fall behind, on my mortgage payments. I lost my job or had my income reduced. That hardship is still going on. I expect it to end, and I want to keep my home while I recover. I am asking you to review me for every loss mitigation option available on my loan. I have included the documents you asked for with my application. If anything is missing, please tell me in writing what you need and the date you need it by. Please send me written confirmation that you received this letter and my application, and tell me whether my application is complete. I can be reached at the phone number and email above. Thank you for reviewing my request. Sincerely, [Your full name]
Before you send it
- Read it once out loud. Fix anything that is not exactly true. An honest, short letter is better than a long one.
- Write your loan number in by hand, sign it, and keep a copy.
- Send it with your full application, in a way you can prove, and ask the servicer to confirm in writing that your application is complete. Federal rules give you the most protection once a complete application is received; see your federal rights and the deadline calculator.
- Not sure which option to ask for? Compare them on your options, or call a free HUD-approved housing counselor at (800) 569-4287.
Common questions
Do I need a hardship letter to get help from my servicer?
Many servicers ask you to explain your hardship as part of their loss mitigation application, often on their own form. If your servicer gives you a form, use it; this letter can go with it or answer a request for a written explanation. What matters most is sending everything the servicer asks for, so your application is complete.
How long should a hardship letter be?
One page. State what happened, when it started, where things stand now, and what you are asking for. Stick to facts and dates. You do not need to share medical details or apologize.
Should I pay someone to write it for me?
No. A HUD-approved housing counselor will help with your letter and your whole application for free. A company that is not your lawyer may not charge you for mortgage relief before you have an offer from your servicer.
Is it safe to put my loan number in the letter?
The letter leaves a blank for your loan number so you can write it in by hand after you print it. Send the letter only to your servicer, through the address or portal on your mortgage statement.
Sources
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If a sale is days away, do not wait for an email. Call a free HUD-approved housing counselor now at (800) 569-4287.