London's Mortgage Repossession Rates: Borough-by-Borough Analysis
In the ever-evolving landscape of London's property market, with high house prices and high rents, repossessions tell a complex story of financial struggles and new beginnings.
Recent data from the Ministry of Justice highlights how economic pressures impact different boroughs, with significant variation across London. With some of the highest repossession levels in areas of high rental activity.
The data shows that in boroughs of lower house prices, where average London rental yields typically hit 5% per annum, although buyer demand is high, there is a balance of homeowners and tenants who are both struggling with the financial commitment of housing.
This article provides a detailed breakdown of London’s mortgage repossession rates, from mortgage possession claims to completed repossessions, helping property investors, homeowners, and researchers understand the broader financial trends across the capital.
Sources of Mortgage Repossession Data
Our repossession data is from diverse, authoritative datasets including:
We update our mortgage repossession data quarterly to ensure accuracy. Last update: September 2024. All data is presented as provided by our sources without adjustments or amendments to ensure complete transparency.
How to Interpret the Data
There are two key data points to understand when comparing repossession rates.
- Mortgage Possession Claims: This represents the number of legal actions initiated by mortgage lenders when homeowners fall behind on payments, measured per 100,000 households. This figure provides insight into early-stage financial distress.
- Mortgage Repossessions: This refers to properties that were taken back by lenders due to unpaid mortgage loans. These figures are also per 100,000 households and indicate the completion of the repossession process
Here is the methodology the Ministry of Justice use.
Mortgage Repossession Data Across London Boroughs
dataset is for the period April to June 2024
| Borough | Mortgage Possession Claims (per 100,000 households) | Mortgage Repossessions (per 100,000 households) |
|---|---|---|
| City of London | 147.1 | 0.0 |
| Barking and Dagenham | 148.6 | 9.9 |
| Barnet | 127.1 | 7.6 |
| Bexley | 81.9 | 17.5 |
| Brent | 157.0 | 9.2 |
| Bromley | 85.0 | 4.1 |
| Camden | 110.0 | 7.9 |
| Croydon | 177.8 | 25.7 |
| Ealing | 117.3 | 12.7 |
| Enfield | 161.4 | 15.8 |
| Greenwich | 105.4 | 11.4 |
| Hackney | 144.0 | 14.3 |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | 91.4 | 8.2 |
| Haringey | 152.9 | 17.3 |
| Harrow | 94.4 | 9.1 |
| Havering | 66.1 | 7.5 |
| Hillingdon | 110.3 | 14.7 |
| Hounslow | 106.5 | 15.6 |
| Islington | 125.4 | 11.1 |
| Kensington and Chelsea | 86.4 | 6.7 |
| Kingston upon Thames | 69.8 | 8.6 |
| Lambeth | 120.2 | 14.1 |
| Lewisham | 108.1 | 15.4 |
| Merton | 84.8 | 24.2 |
| Newham | 215.5 | 28.7 |
| Redbridge | 111.9 | 6.4 |
| Richmond upon Thames | 81.3 | 7.7 |
| Southwark | 100.5 | 8.4 |
| Sutton | 43.8 | 10.1 |
| Tower Hamlets | 119.2 | 21.7 |
| Waltham Forest | 111.7 | 10.2 |
| Wandsworth | 97.3 | 2.9 |
| Westminster | 279.1 | 0.0 |
Conclusion
In London’s property market, mortgage repossessions reflect the widening gap between economic hardship and affordability. This quarter’s data highlights stark contrasts, with Newham experiencing 215.5 possession claims per 100,000 households, while Kensington and Chelsea face significantly fewer at 86.4.
These statistics reveal the mounting financial pressures reshaping London's housing landscape, with each borough experiencing varying degrees of economic strain from escalating property costs. This data highlights the significant challenges confronting homeowners throughout the capital in today's market.
The UK rental sector faces similar pressures, with tenants experiencing record-high rents and increased competition for available properties, creating affordability challenges that mirror the difficulties seen in the homeownership market across major cities like London.