The number of houses repossessed by lenders in 2009 was 15% higher than 2008.

UK repossessions reached an all-time high in 2009 topping 46,000 for the year; 15% higher than 2008 according to the latest figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).

Mortgage lenders took 10,200 houses into possession in the final three months of 2009, 13% less than the previous three months, but adding to an already mounting figure of repossessions for the year.

However, the final annual total is much less than CML had forecast. At the start of the year, the organisation forecast a figure of around 75,000, reducing its forecast to just 48,000 as the year went on.

Mortgage arrears were also higher in 2009 than the previous year. The total number of people struggling to pay their mortgage rose by 3% to 188,300, once again lower than the 195,000 figure anticipated by the CML, but still a cause for concern.

Michael Coogan, CML Director General, said the country should take some positives out of the lower-than-forecast statistics. He said: “The fact that mortgage arrears and possessions did not rise as much as we feared in 2009 is testament to the effect of low interest rates, and a great deal of concerted effort by lenders, government and the advice sector to help borrowers address financial difficulties when they occur.”

Mr Coogan, however, still remained cautious about the year ahead and said borrowers should continue to seek advice as soon as financial problems occur.