Council house repossessions fall

Local charity, Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau, is welcoming a reduction of 20% in the number of families facing repossessions of their council houses.

The figures for Exeter City Council are even more marked with an overall decrease of 48%, or 26 fewer households.

Across all housing sectors, where a CAB adviser has assisted clients facing repossession, clients have avoided repossession in over 85% of cases.

Exeter City Council has provided financial support for this essential service.

Steve Barriball, Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau Chief Executive, said: “We have at least one adviser present at the Court each Tuesday morning to advise and advocate for clients. Last quarter there were 194 cases listed for repossession, an overall decrease on the previous year of 11.8%. There have been reductions across all housing sectors with the exception of the private rented sector which has seen no change. There was an average of around 15 cases listed across all housing sectors each week.”  

Steve explained: “On face value, these reductions are dramatic and seem to fly in the face of predictions of increased levels of housing repossession. However, in the same period enquiries about mortgage arrears, and local authority rent arrears are up by 246% and 76%, respectively.

"The timelag between non-payment resulting in repossession can be many months and therefore, whilst we welcome these figures, we must remain extra vigilant to the potential for increased repossessions down the line. This is especially true for homeowners if we are to believe some commentators who predict a mortgage interest rate rise in 2015."

Steve finished by saying: “I am grateful to the workforce of the Bureau for providing this essential service to families facing repossession. We are also grateful to Exeter City Council for funding this service."