THE number of homeowners in the North West facing the threat of repossession in the last three months has risen by 24 per cent compared with the same period last year – and one of the biggest increases is in Warrington.
Figures released by the Ministry of Justice show court cases involving cash-strapped homeowners have risen more sharply than in most other towns in the region.
A total of 219 repossessions have been dealt with at Warrington County Court – an increase of 49 per cent compared with the first quarter of last year.
Neighbouring towns have fared better. Wigan has experienced a 19 per cent rise, Runcorn 25 per cent and St Helens 32 per cent.
But Altrincham, in leafy south Trafford, has been hit by a 79 per cent rise.
The increase in the North West points to the fact that some lenders are using court action earlier than ever before to “manage” their borrowers mortgage problems, according to housing charity Shelter.
In 1991 there were 2.5 times as many court “Claims Issued” as there were repossessions; in 2007 the figure had doubled to five times as many.
Shelter chief executive Adam Sampson warned: “The worst fears of thousands of homeowners are now becoming a tragic reality. Mortgage lenders should be helping homeowners to stay in their homes, but with some, it’s a case of miss a couple of payments and you’ll find yourself in court.
“Homeowners are being hammered from all sides as they face the end of fixed term deals, are saddled with new costlier mortgages and cope with soaring food and fuel bills. People are sinking in a sea of debt and sadly under the pressure, they are losing their homes.”
Mr Sampson added: “The Government have announced some measures including more funding for county court desks for those worst affected. But these measures fail to urgently address the problems many homeowners face.” Shelter wants courts to have more powers to insist lenders only repossess as the very last resort.
They call for a national mortgage rescue scheme for people facing repossession and a reduction of the time people have to wait for State help from nine to three months
In addition, they want immediate extra financial support for arrears and repossessions help and advice phone lines and call for second and third charge lending to be regulated by the Financial Service Authority (FSA)
The Ministry of Justice figures are backed up by new Shelter statistics which show more than 6,000 worried homeowners approached the charity with mortgage problems in the first three months of 2008, an huge increase of 38 per cent on the same period last year.
THE number of homeowners in the North West facing the threat of repossession in the last three months has risen by 24 per cent compared with the same period last year - and one of the biggest increases is in Warrington.
Town is house repossession blackspot
00 Comments
Share.
About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
