Over a dozen more property repossession claims in Crawley made in lead up to Christmas

EMBARGOED TO 2230 TUESDAY DECEMBER 13 File photo dated 12/09/18 of models houses on a pile of coins and bank notes, as the leader of the Liberal Democrats has urged the Government to ban home repossessions over Christmas, as he warned of a looming "mortgage nightmare" due to soaring monthly payments.

Over a dozen more claims to evict people from homes in Crawley were made in the final months of last year than in 2021, new figures show.

Housing charity Shelter said renters cannot wait any longer for government action – particularly on Section 21 no-fault evictions, which allow landlords to remove tenants without a reason – as more and more people are being forced from their homes.

Ministry of Justice data shows 47 claims to repossess property in Crawley were lodged by mortgage lenders and landlords from October to December last year.

Of the claims, five were for homes owned by mortgage-holders while the rest were to evict tenants.

It means there were 18 more claims in the latest quarter than over the same period in 2021, when 29 were submitted.

Despite this rise, there were still fewer bids to remove people from their homes than in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic – 51 claims were lodged between October and December that year.

Across England and Wales, nearly 23,600 possession claims were made in a bid to evict people in the final months of 20