## Mortgage And Landlord Possession Statistics In England And Wales, October To December 2016 (Provisional) Main Points

The number of mortgage possession claims made to county courts has increased, however these remain within the broadly level trend seen since October to December 2013. Landlord possession claims continue to fall.   

Mortgage possession: 
claims and orders have 
increased 
 
Possession **claims** and **orders** have **risen** (compared 
to the same quarter last year) for the first time since October to December 2013, however the recent trend remains level. 
Mortgage: average time 
(from claim issued to 
possession action) has 
decreased  
 
The fall in average time to **repossession** breaks the long term rising trend. It has decreased to just over 2 years (110 weeks), down **from** 116 weeks in the previous year (Oct-Dec 2015). 
 All stages of landlord 
possession actions have 
decreased  
 
Landlord possession claims, **orders** for possession, warrants of possession and **repossessions** by county court bailiffs were **down**, continuing the long-term downward trend seen since April to June 2014. 
Mortgage  possession 
 
Mortgage possession claims are highest in North West (5 of 10 highest rates). 
claims and repossession 
rates highest in North 
West  England 
Mortgage repossessions are highest in North Lincolnshire with 19 per 100,000 households. 89 Local 
Authorities have no repossessions recorded. 
Landlord possession 
claims and repossessions 
highest in London 
 
Both **landlord possession claims and repossessions** are concentrated in **London** (17 of 20 highest rates). The remaining three areas being Manchester, Slough and **Halton** for possession claims and Slough, Luton and **Thanet** for repossessions. 

This publication gives mortgage and landlord possession statistics for the latest 12 month period alongside the previous 48 months to provide key trends over the past 5 years. For technical detail refer to the accompanying guide. 

We are changing how our quarterly bulletins look, and would welcome any feedback to commentary.champions@justice.gsi.gov.uk For other feedback related to the content of this publication, please let us know at CAJS@justice.gsi.gov.uk 
 

## 1.  Overview Of Mortgage Possession Claims And Order Possession Actions Have Increased

Mortgage possession **claims** (4,798) and orders for **possession** (2,963), have both 
increased by 10% and 1% respectively (compared to the same quarter last year), 
breaking the **quarterly downward trend**, seen since January to March 2009. 
 
The continuing downward trend seen for **warrants** of possession and **repossessions**, 
may reflect a time lag of cases progressing through the system. 
 
The increase in claims and orders seen in the most recent quarter may indicate a change in trend or a fluctuation within the recent level trend, this will become clearer with future quarterly bulletins.  

## Annual Figures Have All **Decreased** From 2015; Claims Down 7%, **Orders Down 16%**, Warrants Down 24% And Repossessions **Down 15%.**

The long term fall in the number of mortgage possession actions since 2008 coincides with lower interest rates1, a proactive approach from lenders in managing consumers in financial difficulties and other regulations or **interventions from the government**2. It also coincides with a **decrease** in the proportion of **owner-occupier households** and an increase in the proportion of outright-owner households (therefore the population susceptible to mortgage repossessions has reduced over this time period)3. 

 

## 2. Mortgage Possession Action Timeliness Average Time (A Claim Is Issued To Possession Action) Has Decreased.

The observed fall in average time breaks the long term rising trend, seen since 2008.  

 
Repossessions have **decreased** to 110.7 weeks from the previous quarter (Jul-Sep 
2016) high of 140.7, and the previous year (Oct-Dec 2015) figure of 116.0. 
Number of weeks taken from initial Mortgage claim to… 

| Orders     |     |     | Warrants    |     |     | Repossessions    |
|------------|-----|-----|-------------|-----|-----|------------------|
| Claims to orders have     | Claims to warrents have    | Claims to reposessions    |
|---------------------------|----------------------------|---------------------------|
| decreased from 16.7 (Oct- | decreased from 86.1 (Oct-  | have decreased from       |
| Dec 2015)                 |                            |                           |
| to 14.9 weeks             |                            |                           |
| Dec 2015) to              | 116.0 (Oct-Dec 2015) to    |                           |
| (Oct-Dec 2016)            |                            |                           |
|                           |                            |                           |
| 71.3 weeks (Oct-Dec 2016) |                            |                           |
|                           |                            |                           |
| 110.7 (Oct-Dec 2016)      |                            |                           |

## Percentage (Cumulative) Of Mortgage Claims That Reach Each Stage (By Number Of Quarters Since Claim Was Submitted) (Source: Table 3B)

| In initial 6 months (first two quarters)    |         |
|---------------------------------------------|---------|
|                                             |         |
| Oct-Dec 2015                                |         |
| Oct-Dec 2016                                |         |
|                                             | Oct-Dec |
|                                             |         |
| 2015                                        |         |
| Oct-Dec 2016                                |         |
| Orders                                      |         |
| 58%                                         |         |
| 59%                                         |         |
|                                             | 65%     |
| 66%                                         |         |
| Warrants                                    |         |
| 16%                                         |         |
| 15%                                         |         |
|                                             | 37%     |
| 34%                                         |         |
| Repossessions                               |         |
| 7%                                          |         |
| 6%                                          |         |
|                                             | 20%     |
| 18%                                         |         |

Over the last 5 years, 66% of claims received orders of repossession; 34% received warrants, and nearly 18% ended in repossession (by county court bailiff). There is an increased number of claims that progress to orders within the initial 3-6 months. 

Less **claims** have **progressed to warrants and repossessions** in the initial 3-6months, with **less cases overall** progressing to **warrants or repossessions over 5 years**. 

## 3. Overview Of Landlord Possession All Stages Of Landlord Possession Actions Have Decreased

Landlord possession **claims** (30,920), **orders** for possession (24,674), **warrants** of possession (14,137) and **repossessions** by county court bailiffs (9,067) were down 
16%, 13%, 24% and 7% respectively (compared to the same quarter last year; Oct-
Dec 2015). Continuing the **annual downward trend**, seen since April to June 2014. 
 
 
Annual figures have all **decreased** from 2015; claims down 11%, **orders down 9%**, down warrants 9% and repossessions **down 6%.** 
 

claims (18,696) were **social landlord** claims, 7,337 **(24%)** were **accelerated** claims and 4,887 **(16%)** were private 

 

## 4. Landlord Possession Timeliness Landlord Possession Order Timeliness Has Increased, With Recent Decreases In Warrants And Repossessions

 
Slight increase in **orders** timeliness and **decrease** in time from claim to **warrants** and repossessions (this is a drop from observed stable fluctuations of around 38 weeks 
(warrants) and 43 weeks (repossessions)). 
Number of weeks taken from initial landlord claim to … 

| Orders     |     |     | Warrants    |     |     | Repossessions    |
|------------|-----|-----|-------------|-----|-----|------------------|
| Claims to orders have                                                          | Claims to warrents have    | Claims to reposessions    |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------|---------------------------|
| increased                                                                      |                            |                           |
| slightly from 11.1                                                             |                            |                           |
| decreased                                                                      |                            |                           |
| from 37.8                                                                      | have                       |                           |
| decreased                                                                      |                            |                           |
| from                                                                           |                            |                           |
| weeks (Oct-Dec 2015) to                                                        | 41.4 weeks (Oct-Dec        | weeks (Oct-Dec 2015) to   |
|                                                                                |                            |                           |
| 11.5 weeks                                                                     |                            |                           |
| (Oct-Dec 2016)                                                                 |                            |                           |
| 31.0                                                                           |                            |                           |
| (Oct-Dec 2016)                                                                 |                            |                           |
| 2015) to                                                                       |                            |                           |
| 37.3                                                                           |                            |                           |
| (Oct-Dec 2016)                                                                 |                            |                           |
| Percentage (cumulative) of landlord claims that reach each stage (by number of |                            |                           |
| quarters since claim was submitted) (Source: Table 6b)                         |                            |                           |
| In initial 6 months (first two quarters)                                       |                            | In last 5 years           |
|                                                                                |                            |                           |
| Oct-Dec                                                                        |                            |                           |
| 2015                                                                           |                            |                           |
| Oct-Dec 2016                                                                   |                            |                           |
|                                                                                |                            |                           |
| Oct-Dec                                                                        |                            |                           |
| 2015                                                                           |                            |                           |
| Oct-Dec 2016                                                                   |                            |                           |
| Orders                                                                         |                            |                           |
| 64%                                                                            |                            |                           |
| 67%                                                                            |                            |                           |
|                                                                                | 71%                        |                           |
| 74%                                                                            |                            |                           |
| Warrants                                                                       |                            |                           |
| 23%                                                                            |                            |                           |
| 24%                                                                            |                            |                           |
|                                                                                | 40%                        |                           |
| 40%                                                                            |                            |                           |
| Repossessions                                                                  |                            |                           |
| 12%                                                                            |                            |                           |
| 12%                                                                            |                            |                           |
|                                                                                | 25%                        |                           |
| 25%                                                                            |                            |                           |
|                                                                                |                            |                           |

Over the last 5 years, 74% of claims received orders of repossession; 40% received warrants, and a quarter ended in repossession.  
The proportion of claims **progressing to repossessions** in the initial 3-6months and in the last 5 years, has remained stable. 

## 5. Regional Possession Claims Possession Claims Highest In North West And London

 
Mortgage possession claims highest in **Rossendale** and Hyndburn in **North West** (43 
and 41 respectively).  
Landlord possession claims are highly concentrated in **London**, with 17 of the 20 highest rates, **Barking and Dagenham** the highest (373 per 100,000 household). 

## Mortgage

The number of mortgage possession claims per 
100,000 households by local authority ranged from zero (in four local authorities; Isles of Scilly, Ryedale, Vale of White Horse and City of London) **to 43**, in **Rossendale**.  
There is concentration of higher rates (over 35 
claims per 100,000) in the **North West** (Rossendale, Hyndburn, Bradford, Chorley, Rochdale and Knowsley). 

## Landlord

Ribble Valley (also in the North West) showed the lowest rate of landlord possession claims 
(12 per 100,000 household) whilst Barking and Dagenham showed the highest (373 per 
100,000 household).  
London boroughs account for **17 of the 20** local authorities with the highest **rate** of landlord claims. 


## 6. Regional Repossessions (By County Court Bailiffs)

Repossessions are highest in Yorkshire, Wales, North East and London 
 
Mortgage repossessions are highest in **North Lincolnshire** with 19 per 100,000 
households.  
 
Landlord repossessions are concentrated in **London** (17 of 20 highest rates). 

## Mortgage

North Lincolnshire had the highest number of mortgage repossessions by country court bailiffs per 100,000 households in July to September 2016, at 19.  
No repossessions by country court bailiffs were recorded during this period in 89 local authorities. 

 

## Landlord

There were seven local authorities with no landlord repossessions by county court bailiffs in October to December 2016 (Isles of Scilly, Derbyshire Dales, Torridge, Ribble Valley, Richmonshire, West Somerset and Mole Valley).  
 
London local authorities account for 17 of the 20 boroughs, with the **highest rate** of landlord repossessions being in **Newham**, at 241 per 100,000 households. 

## Further Information

The statistics in the latest quarter are provisional and revisions may be made when the next edition of this bulletin is published and when the figures are reconciled at the end of the year. If revisions are needed in subsequent years, these will be annotated in the tables. 

## Accompanying Files As Well As This Bulletin, The Following Products Are Published As Part Of This Release:

 
A technical guide providing further information on how the data is collected and processed, as well as legislation relevant to mortgage possessions and relevant background. 
 
A set of overview tables, covering key sections of this bulletin. 
 
CSV files by local authority and county court, with a user's guide. 
National Statistics status National Statistics status means that official statistics meet the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and public value. All official statistics should comply with all aspects of the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. They are awarded National Statistics status following an assessment by the Authority's regulatory arm. The Authority considers whether the statistics meet the highest standards of Code compliance, including the value they add to public decisions and debate. It is the Ministry of Justice's responsibility to maintain compliance with the standards expected for National Statistics. If we become concerned about whether these statistics are still meeting the appropriate standards, we will discuss any concerns with the Authority promptly. National Statistics status can be removed at any point when the highest standards are not maintained, and reinstated when standards are restored. 

Contact Queries about these statistics should be directed to the Justice Statistics Analytical Services, in the Ministry of Justice: 
Bridgette Miles - email: CAJS@justice.gsi.gov.uk Press enquiries should be directed to the Ministry of Justice press office: 
Sebastian Walters - email: sebastian.walters@justice.gsi.gov.uk  
And queries on the wider policy implications of these statistics should be directed to the Department for Communities and Local Government's press office: 
Matthew Gorman - email: Matthew.Gorman@communities.gsi.gov.uk 
 

## Next Update: 11 May 2017

URL: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mortgage-and-landlord-possession-statisticsoctober-to-december-2016 

## © Crown Copyright Produced By The Ministry Of Justice

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