New figures from the Department and Constitutional Affairs reveal that the number of people in the early stages of the repossession process rose sharply in the second quarter of 2005.

Actions entered by lenders, the first stage of repossession, rose 53% over the past year to 28,476, and is the highest level since the third quarter of 1993. Orders made (orders made by courts to repossess properties) were 61% higher over the past 12 months at 18,330 in Q2, the highest level since the second quarter of 1996. Data also released today by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) reveals that 4,640 houses were repossessed in the first half of 2005. This is 1,570 more than the previous six months and 1,480 higher than the same period last year, but remains low by historical standards