Repossessions up by half in 2008
New figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders show that repossesions rose by 54% last year.
The rate of repossessions slowed in the last quarter.
The total number of repossessions by the end of 2008 was 40,000.
The CML said that rising unemployment and a scarcity of lending options meant that many people defaulted on secured loans and ended up losing their homes.
