Figures released by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) reveal that mortgage and landlord possession volumes have both increased in the first quarter of 2024, compared to the same period last year.
The gradual upward trend of mortgage possession actions has continued with claims at their highest since 2019.
In comparison to the first quarter of 2023, there has been a 28% increase in mortgage possession claims, rising from 4,035 to 5,182.
Mortgage possession orders increased from 2,532 to 3,019 (19%), warrants from 2,636 to 2,861 (9%) and county court bailiff repossessions from 729 to 759 (4%).
The MoJ figures also reveal that there has been an increase in landlord possession actions, almost bringing them back to their pre-covid 2019 levels.
Compared to the same period in 2023, there has also been a decrease in the median average time from claim to mortgage repossession, which has changed from 60.9 weeks to 45.7 weeks.
However, in the same 2023 period, median claim to landlord repossession times grew from 22.4 weeks to 24.1 weeks.
The highest rate of mortgage possession claims occurred in Westminster, which saw 279 per 100,000 households owned by loan or mortgage. This was followed by Newham and Croydon, with 215 and 178 claims per 100,000, respectively.
London experienced the highest private landlord possession claim rates, with 6 of the 10 highest rates occurring in the capital.
