Council of Mortgage lenders reduces repossession forecast
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has this evening issued a statement suggesting that UK repossessions in 2009 could be significantly lower than originally forecast. The CML had forecast around 75,000 repossessions in the whole of 2009 although this figure has now been reduced to 65,000, still a significant increase on the 40,000 repossessions last year. It is also worth remembering that the 65,000 level would still be the highest in more than a decade and reflect the dire situation in the UK property market.
The CML believe that the UK government's various financial initiatives and the significant reduction in UK base rates are starting to benefit the market. There is even an indication that UK government intervention with regards to the repossession process has seen a significant slowdown in the first three months of 2009 although whether this will continue indefinitely remains to be seen. On one hand the UK government is asking banks to reduce undue risk while on the other they are promoting the retention of potentially troublesome mortgage agreements with homeowners who in many cases cannot cover their payments.
This is the first positive note from the CML after being fairly downbeat over the last few weeks and months regarding the UK property market and economy as a whole.
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