The bad is that a total of 12,800 homes were repossessed in the first quarter of 2009.

The good news is that was not as many as feared and the total number of future repossessions is being downgraded.

The 12,800 is considerably more than the 10,500 in the final quarter of last year and compares with 8,500 homes taken back in the first quarter of last year. But original predictions of a total of 75,000 repossessions in 2009 are being scaled back.

But there’s other bad new on an otherwise slightly more optimistic picture, with news that the number of borrowers falling behind on the mortgage payments is going up as well. Some 265,100 householders are now said to be at least three months behind on their payments.

The figures further reveal that some 1,700 repossessions in the first quarter were related to buy-to-let mortgages.

The government, having taken flak for helping banks, but not assisting householders, has introduced a number of measures to ease the situation. Courts have been told to make repossession the last resort, only if all other alternatives to keep the person in the house has been exhausted. And a mortgage support scheme has been introduced whereby interest payments can be deferred.

But, charities are highlighting many sub-prime lenders who are ignoring governments calls for restraint and quickly move for repossession.

Guest Article by Neil Camp