Figures released by the Ministry of Justice shows that in the last  ten years landlord repossession orders have hit their highest point with 47,220 being issued in the first quarter of this year. This number of landlords in England and Wales took court action to attempt to get their properties back.

The number of landlord repossession orders over the first three months equates to a massive 525 every day.

The Ministry of Justice reported that 69% of those landlord claims achieved formal repossession orders.

37% of the claims led to warrants for possession of properties.

 

21% went the full distance and achieved repossession of their properties.

From January to March of this year 10,475 repositions were carried out by court bailiffs, the highest number in five years. 

Universal Credit, bedroom tax and clamping down on jobseekers not fulfilling their Claimant's Commitment (not job seeking to their best of their abilities) are the main factors for the number of repossessions, as the number of claims by Social landlords far outweighed those from private landlords - 31,000 to 6,500.

 

An Insurance letting agents MD, Michael Portman said: "Record high rents, rising food and fuel bills, welfare cuts and years of stagnating wages have taken their toll. Increasing numbers of tenants have had to rely on housing benefit and tenants who have had jobseeker's allowance stopped for any reason also have their housing benefit suspended. Even if it is reinstated, they can end up months behind with their rent.

"Some private landlords have also pulled out of offering homes to tenants on housing benefits and councils often advise these renters that they cannot be given social housing unless they go through the eviction process."

 

Portman added: ‘We have seen a sharp rise in demand for rent guarantee insurance as landlords and agents look to find ways to protect their rental income. It is clear that this problem is not going to go away.

"The message to landlords and agents is make sure that they consider the strength of the tenant when letting the property by taking out full references, and to consider specific insurance for loss of rent if the tenant defaults and the cost of legal expenses to obtain possession."