The hidden heartache of repossession
Despite the fact that the Council of Mortgage Lenders last week reduced its forecast of the number of homes to be repossessed in the UK, we may well be missing the point. It was revealed that 9800 homes were repossessed in the first quarter of 2010 and this figure fell to 9400 in the second quarter with an estimate that "just" 39,000 homes would be repossessed this year as opposed to initial forecasts of around 53,000. However, surely 39,000 homes is way too many?
Over the last few days we have seen a number of disturbing stories in the press regarding families who have virtually been ripped apart after losing their homes and spiralling into financial difficulties. This comes at a time when the UK government is looking to half mortgage benefit payments while attempting to place more pressure on the UK banking industry to make more finance available. The human cost of repossession is very much cast aside in favour of headlines which can often be very positive or very negative. However, repossessions in the UK can very often be the start of a traumatic period for those involved which can end in tragedy and heartache.
Is now the right time for the government to reduce mortgage benefit payments?
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