A local authority may enter into an agreement with a person or body making an advance on the security of a house (or a building to be converted into a house) whereby, in the event of default by the mortgagor, and in the circumstances and subject to conditions specified in the agreement, the authority binds itself to indemnify the mortgagee in respect of the whole or part of the mortgagor's outstanding indebtedness and any loss or expense falling on the mortgagee in consequence of the mortgagor's default.
The local authority may only enter into the agreement if the advance is for one or more of the purposes specified in subsection (1) or (1A) of section 435; and subsections (2) to (4) of that section apply in relation to power to enter into such an agreement as they apply to the power to make an advance under that section.
The agreement may also, if the mortgagor is made party to it, enable or require the authority in specified circumstances to take a transfer of the mortgage and assume rights and liabilities under it, the mortgagee being then discharged in respect of them.
The transfer may be made to take effect—
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