1,041 families lost homes in Northampton in 2007 (Andrew Simpson)

1,041 families lost homes in Northampton in 2007

February 14, 2008 12:00 AM

Houses in Lumbertubs Too many families in Northampton are losing their homes because of difficulties over mortgage payments, claims Northampton North Constituency Liberal Democrat Candidate Andrew Simpson.

New figures show that 1,041 orders for home repossession were issued by Northampton county court in 2007. This is a rise of 4% since 2006 with the biggest increase of 38% occurring in the last quarter of 2007 (compared to 2006).

"1,041 home repossession orders means 1,041 families being turfed out of the house they have lived in, often for many years," said Andrew Simpson.

"Many people remember the boom and bust policies of the last Conservative government that saw tens of thousands of people lose their home because they could not keep up with mortgage payments. Now it looks as though the current Labour Government has blundered into a similar mess.

"The Government has failed to ensure there are enough homes to meet people's needs. For every ten families on the waiting list in England for social housing in 1997, when Labour came to power, there are now sixteen.

"And Gordon Brown has run an economy that has been fuelled by a runaway credit boom he has done little to bring under control.

"1,041 families in 2007 paid the price for growing economic incompetence by Gordon Brown in Northampton. There are now serious concerns that in 2008, the situation will get worse."

Ends

Notes to Editors

Local figures for repossession were published by the Department for Justice on 8th February. The figures are on the following link: http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/stats-mort-landlord-tab2-q4.xls. Use the figures in columns H and J. These show the total repossession claims for 2007 and the percentage change from 2006.