When did your Lender first contact you? This mention of the 6 year period could be because of the voluntary 6 year code. See the CML web: page "www.cml.org.uk/servlet/dycon/zt cml/cml/live/en/cml/pub_info_dept" . I'm very interested in what you say about your property having been withheld from the market whilst investigating the possibility of leasing it. I have been investigating this myself recently as I recently saw this in a Hansard report:(posted 8004 days ago)"Under the new extension to the scheme, the empty repossessed houses on the building societies' books can be let to housing associations for periods of between one and three years, and occupied by families. Later, when the property is eventually sold, the lender should get a better price than he would from a forced sale now. The scheme also reduces the losses of the borrowers. In the meantime, the property is maintained and squatting is eliminated. The process also helps to stabilise house prices by controlling the rate at which empty property is offered in the market. Far from being half-baked, the scheme works to the benefit of all involved."
Have you got a copy of the report by the bank ? I would be very interested in a copy of it.
Mark.