Millions fear home repossession

Friday, 20 March 2009 8:52 AM

Six million Britons fear their home will be repossessed, according to research from Which?.

Some 62 per cent of the working population are concerned they or their partner will lose their job, and 43 per cent of joint income households are worried about mortgage repayments if the main income earner loses their job.

The research found 4.2 million mortgage holders are worried they may go into negative equity in the next year, and seven in ten mortgage holders believe the government should do more to prevent repossessions.

Which? personal finance campaigner, Doug Taylor, said: "It's dreadful that six million people fear losing the roof over their heads.

"With people spending sleepless nights worrying about job losses and repossessions, the industry needs to demonstrate that it wants to win back the trust of the British public by fully embracing government initiatives."

Three quarters of people think 100 per cent mortgages should be banned, according to Which?.

The company is calling for a regulatory ban on over 100 per cent mortgages, robust protection against people losing their homes because of unsecured debt, and for the government to force lenders to become part of the Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme if they fail to join voluntarily.

Figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) indicate there could be as many as 75,000 repossessions this year, although this has been criticised as being "optimistic".

A Shelter spokesperson said: "With tens of thousands of families living in the shadow of repossession, there can be no doubt of the scale of the crisis facing Britain's homeowners, and with thousands facing unemployment, there is little evidence that things will get any better during this year.

"Shelter urges anyone who is worried about repossession or struggling with mortgage arrears to seek free, independent advice at www.shelter.org.uk or by calling our freephone advice line on 0808 800 4444."

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