belfasttelegraph

Wednesday 22 May 2013

128,000 mortgages behind on payment

Nearly 11 per cent of mortgages were three months behind in repayments at the end of June, new figures show

More than 128,000 mortgages are behind in repayments, official figures have revealed.

The latest Central Bank report on the debt crisis shows almost 11% of mortgages were three months behind in repayments at the end of June.

Banks had 961 repossessed homes on their books at the time of the data.

A breakdown of the figures shows 45,165 accounts up to three months behind in repayments with another 17,553 between 90 and 180 days in arrears and another 65,698 failing to meet payments for more than six months.

The percentage of mortgages in arrears for more than 90 days was up 0.7% since the end of March.

Pat Farrell, Irish Bankers Federation chief executive, said the figures are expected to rise.

He said: "It comes as no surprise that, unfortunately, the overall stock of mortgage arrears continues to grow and indeed is likely to do so for some months yet because of the economic and financial backdrop.

"However, the continuing reduction in the pace at which the stock has been growing is very welcome and we must hope that this trend will continue."

The number of homes being repossessed remained relatively low, according to the report. In the three months to the end of June, 97 orders were granted by the courts to repossess homes.

Over the period, 146 homes were taken from debt-hit owners, with 102 of these being handed back voluntarily.

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