People who live in the North West or the Midlands are more likely to have their homes repossessed due to mounting debt problems the government has suggested.
As a result, the government is launching a new TV campaign recommending those that are struggling with their mortgage repayments to seek impartial debt advice.
The hotspots that are prime for repossession include areas like Salford, Swindon, Northampton, Corby, Barking and Dagenham, Knowsley, Newham, Walsall, Redditch, Halton, Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Bolton, Reading and Cannock Chase.
It also highlighted other major conurbations that have an increased risk, like: Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham, Sunderland, Wigan, Birmingham and Kingston-upon-Hull.
Figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) show that the number of repossessions in the second quarter of 2009 were down by 10 per cent on the first three months. However with overall figures, there was still an increase of 14 per centwhen compared to the same period last year.
Ivan Cooper, Chairman at leading debt management organisation Chiltern, said: “Many repossessions can be prevented when homeowners that are struggling to make their repayments – perhaps due to a period of unemployment – speak to their lender or seek impartial debt help.
“Usually an agreement can be reached with lenders so that payments are reduced temporarily to accommodate the drop in income, in an effort to avoid repossession.”
The housing charity Shelter has also warned that another wave of home repossessions when interest rates eventually rise.