A rise in interest rates could tip many people into the danger zone, says charity.

A rise in interest rates could tip many people into the danger zone, says charity

Almost a quarter of a million people in England are at risk of eviction or repossession, according to new research from the homelessness charity Shelter.

In a new report out today, the charity has revealed that 215,000 people in England are now at risk of losing their home, with residents of Newham most at risk and Salford the eviction and reposession risk capital of the north.

Shelter has also predicted that, with many families struggling with housing costs, a rise in interest rates could tip many people into the danger zone.

The list of danger areas are dominated by places where property prices are highest and affordable housing in short supply, with Newham topping the list followed by Barking and Dagenham and Southwark. Nottingham is the number one hotspot outside of London, with 1 in every 54 homes at risk. Peterborough (1 in 60) and Salford (1 in 60) also feature in the top 20.

The charity says it is taking more than 480 calls each day on its advice line from families worried about losing their home.

Chief executive of Shelter Campbell Robb said the figures showed “just how many families go through the trauma of learning that their home is at risk, every single week”.

“People are hearing that the economy is recovering, but we’re seeing the reality that many families across the country are still battling to keep their heads above water and keep their homes,” he added.

Table of top 20 eviction and repossession risk capitals in England

Rank (national)	Local Authority	Region	Number of mortgage and landlord possession claims	Rate of mortgage and landlord possession claims – 1 in x households
1	Newham	London	2,944	1 in 34
2	Barking and Dagenham	London	1,975	1 in 35
3	Southwark	London	3,138	1 in 38
4	Hackney	London	2,460	1 in 41
5	Haringey	London	2,459	1 in 41
6	Brent	London	2,643	1 in 42
7	Lewisham	London	2,608	1 in 45
8	Greenwich	London	2,213	1 in 46
9	Waltham Forest	London	2,116	1 in 46
10	Enfield	London	2,599	1 in 46
11	Croydon	London	2,970	1 in 49
12	Lambeth	London	2,646	1 in 49
13	Ealing	London	2,413	1 in 51
14	Tower Hamlets	London	1,962	1 in 52
15	Nottingham UA	East Midlands	2,353	1 in 54
16	Redbridge	London	1,706	1 in 58
17	Islington	London	1,592	1 in 59
18	Hillingdon	London	1,705	1 in 59
19	Peterborough UA	East of England	1,241	1 in 60
20	Salford	North West	1,717	1 in 60
Source: Mortgage and landlord possession claim statistics, Ministry of Justice, May 2014; Census 2011.

Figures are based on possession claims issued in county courts between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2014 (Ministry of Justice), compared with the number of households in the area (Census 2011). There was a total of 215, 305 possession claims in England between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2014.

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