A scheme aimed at stopping thousands of vulnerable people losing their homes is being extended across England.
Not-for-profit housing associations will buy homes from people struggling to pay their mortgage and then allow them to continue living there.
The government says the £200m scheme could help up to 6,000 households which might otherwise face repossession.
Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland have, or soon will have, their own initiatives in place.
The English scheme is one of several initiatives launched or expanded to help homeowners in the downturn.
The programme was devised last year by the National Housing Federation, which represents England's housing associations, and the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
It was already in place across 80 local authorities in England, but will be rolled out across the country from Friday.
Scotland has had a similar scheme since 2003, from which more than 700 households have already benefited.
The Scottish government has said it plans to extend its existing mortgage-to-rent scheme, as well as developing a new mortgage-to-equity programme, which will help some owners keep full possession of their homes while substantially reducing their debt.
Wales also has a mortgage rescue scheme in place, involving housing associations registered with the Welsh Assembly government.
Northern Ireland's department for social development has issued a consultation document on setting up such a scheme, but has still to launch it formally.
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