Property repossessions rose at the end of 2019 amid warnings that lenders may be getting more proactive as the market recovers.

Figures from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) show there was an 11% increase in court claims for repossession, while trade body UK Finance revealed that actual repossessions were up 17% annually.

The MoJ data show that mortgage court orders and eventual repossessions by county court bailiffs have risen by 24% and 9% respectively, compared with the same quarter last year.

Hartlepool had the highest rate of mortgage possession claims at 56 per 100,000 households, while Hackney in London had the highest rate of landlord repossessions at 286 per 100,000 households.

UK Finance data for the same period showed repossessions for home owner mortgages were up 17% annually to 1,330, while those for buy-to-let rose by 20% to 660.

UK Finance warned this was from a very low base and driven by a backlog of cases.

Arrears remained at historic lows. The number of residential mortgages outstanding in arrears of 2.5% or more fell 9% annually and declined by 7% for buy-to-let loans.

Commenting on the data, Mark Pilling, managing director of Spicerhaart Corporate Sales, said: “The latest UK Finance figures show that the long-term trend for increased mortgage possession activity is continuing.

“Although this is from a low base, it is still a sign that the uncertainty and low economic growth of recent years is catching up with household finances.”

Jeremy Leaf, north London estate agent and a former RICS residential chairman, warned that the more buoyant property market may make lenders tougher on repossessions.

He said: “These figures are interesting but not particularly surprising in view of subdued market conditions for most of last year and well before that.

“However, as the market slowly recovers it would not be surprising to see lenders taking a more proactive stance when it comes to repossessions, as they will see, like the rest of us, that not only can the property in question be sold but possibly at a better price than they would have anticipated previously.”