An analysis of lettings data across England and Wales shows that there have been 3,737 rental property repossession orders granted in the first quarter of 2022, the latest figures available.
Some 27 per cent of these repossessions were in London, 15 per cent in the South East, with the North West also accounting for some of the highest levels at 11 per cent.
At local level it’s Birmingham where rental property repossessions were greatest, ahead of Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole, Brent, Greenwich, Ealing, and Newham.
There were 19 locations that reported absolutely no repossessions - these include South Norfolk, Monmouthshire, Harlow, Guildford, and South Staffordshire.
“With the government doing its best to deter buy to let investment by dampening the financial returns on offer, Birmingham’s landlords can ill afford to have their home occupied by a tenant who is failing to pay their way, so it’s understandable that a notable number have decided to clean house and remove problem tenants so far this year” explains James Forrester, managing director of lettings agency Barrows and Forrester, which commissioned the research.
He continues: “Given how severe the nation’s current cost of living crisis has become and how long it’s expected to last for, we would be naive not to assume that this number may continue to climb. Of course, the move to repossess a rental property will always be the last resort for any landlord and the vast, vast majority will always manage to come to a suitable agreement with their tenant prior to this requirement”
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It would be interesting to know how many were for rent arrears and how many for landlords selling up.
Yet again pointless numbers, to make any sense we need a breakdown of PRS and social landlords. I was in court for the first time for 15+ years recently and on the court bulletin board I would say 90% of the cases were social landlords seeking possession!
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