Moratorium on repossessions urged

HOMELESSNESS charity Focus Ireland has called for a two-year moratorium on home repossessions following an announcement that new protocols will be introduced to curb repossessions in Northern Ireland.

Repossessions have grown dramatically in Ireland in the last 18 months. Courts Service figures showed they more than doubled between 2007 and 2008; 238 repossession orders were granted last year, compared to 108 in 2007. At the end of July, 78 cases for repossessions were listed before the High Court and Focus says that number is likely to rise dramatically after the summer break.

Mike Allen, director of advocacy at Focus, said there is not enough protection in place to prevent a flood of repossessions. “People who fall into mortgage difficulties currently only have a weak and voluntary code of conduct to protect them from the banks.”