Quarter Three repossessions lowest in decade

Mortgage possession claims in county courts totalled 9,731 between July and September – the lowest quarterly total in a decade, figures from the Ministry of Justice have revealed.

By 2013 repossession clams fell by 62% to 53,659 compared to a peak of 142,741 in 2008.

The estimated percentage of claims progressing to an order, warrant or repossession in 2008 was around 73%, 46% and 27% respectively.

In comparison provisional estimates for Q3 2014 are around 70%, 41% and 20%.

With landlords the number of repossessions by county court bailiffs stood at 11,100 in July to September 2014 – the highest ever quarterly figure recorded.

County court possession claims fell from 194,645 in 2002 to 134,961 in 2010, but the number increased by 26% to 170,451 in 2013.

In Q3 2014 40,859 claims were recorded, 3,700 (8%) less than was issued in the same quarter in 2013.

The estimated proportion of claims which progressed to an order, warrant or repossession by county court bailiffs has increased, standing at around 68%, 36% and 21% in 2012 compared to 72%, 39% and 21% in Q3 2014