Buying repossessed property in the UK: city guides

Repossessed property comes up in every UK city. The numbers, the housing and the rules differ in each one. These guides cover them city by city.

Each guide gives the local repossession rate, the size of the housing stock, the areas where repossessed homes come up, and the buying process. Plain English. No padding.

Repossessions in England and Wales: the national picture

In April to June 2026, county court bailiffs carried out 1,008 mortgage repossessions in England and Wales. Landlords recovered another 6,560 homes (Ministry of Justice, Apr–Jun 2026).

• Landlord repossessions dominate. They outnumber mortgage repossessions by more than six to one.
• Mortgage repossessions are falling. They were down 14% on a year earlier. Landlord repossessions fell 3%.
• London carries a third. London's 33 local authorities recorded 10,901 of the 32,931 repossessions assigned to a council area in the 12 months to June 2026.

Repossessions by city

Here's how the 28 cities in this series compare, from most repossessions to fewest. Figures cover the 12 months from July 2025 to June 2026.

Sources: Ministry of Justice local authority possession data (repossessions by county court bailiffs, mortgage and landlord combined, July 2025 to June 2026); ONS mid-2025 population estimates; GOV.UK dwelling stock Table 125 (2024) and StatsWales (Cardiff and Swansea, March 2025). Rates per resident are Repolist calculations.

Most people don't know how far rates differ. Per resident, they range from 15 per 100,000 in York to 119 across London. Big cities do not always have the highest rates: Leicester and Milton Keynes record more per resident than Leeds or Bristol.

City guides by region

London and the South East

• Buying repossessed property in London: a conurbation of 33 local authorities, with repossession rates that vary more than tenfold between boroughs.
• Buying repossessed property in Milton Keynes: the most repossessions in the South East, on new town estates.
• Buying repossessed property in Brighton and Hove: high prices, few repossessions and a market built on converted flats.
• Buying repossessed property in Portsmouth: the UK's only island city, with dense terraces and shared houses.
• Buying repossessed property in Southampton: a port city with a large rental market and HMO rules to check.

The South West

• Buying repossessed property in Bristol: the most repossessions in the South West, high prices and very high rents.
• Buying repossessed property in Plymouth: the naval city, with very few empty homes.

The West Midlands

• Buying repossessed property in Birmingham: 815 repossessions a year, HS2 at Curzon Street, and three new rail stations.
• Buying repossessed property in Coventry: steady repossessions and a big student market.
• Buying repossessed property in Wolverhampton: falling repossessions and the fastest-rising rents in this series.
• Buying repossessed property in Stoke-on-Trent: six towns, very low prices and high landlord repossession rates.

The East Midlands

• Buying repossessed property in Leicester: the most repossessions in the East Midlands, from a small, dense housing stock.
• Buying repossessed property in Nottingham: trams, students and one of England's largest landlord licensing schemes.
• Buying repossessed property in Derby: rising repossessions in a railway and engineering city.

The North West

• Buying repossessed property in Manchester: a top-ten repossession rate, a fast-growing city and a housing stock dominated by new flats.
• Buying repossessed property in Liverpool: 389 repossessions a year, a big private rented market and investor flats to check carefully.
• Buying repossessed property in Salford: MediaCityUK, Metrolink and Manchester next door.

Yorkshire and the Humber

• Buying repossessed property in Leeds: the most repossessions in Yorkshire, back-to-back terraces and a huge district.
• Buying repossessed property in Sheffield: rising repossessions, many by social landlords, and the Supertram network.
• Buying repossessed property in Bradford: high mortgage repossessions and some of the lowest prices of any large city.
• Buying repossessed property in Wakefield: a city and its former coalfield towns, with fast links to Leeds and London.
• Buying repossessed property in Doncaster: low prices, fast rail links and a high share of mortgage repossessions.
• Buying repossessed property in Hull: the lowest prices in this series, rising rents and real flood risk.
• Buying repossessed property in York: the lowest repossession rate in this series and fierce competition.

The North East

• Buying repossessed property in Newcastle: Tyneside flats, the Metro and fast-rising rents.
• Buying repossessed property in Sunderland: a mortgage repossession rate more than three times the typical council.

Wales

• Buying repossessed property in Cardiff: the most repossessions in Wales, plus Land Transaction Tax and Rent Smart Wales.
• Buying repossessed property in Swansea: prices below Cardiff and the same Welsh tax and tenancy rules.

What is a repossessed property?

A repossessed property is a home taken back through the courts. A mortgage lender repossesses when the borrower stops paying. A landlord repossesses when a tenancy ends in a possession order.

The homes buyers can purchase usually come from mortgage lenders. Landlord repossessions return the home to the landlord, who may re-let or sell it.

Mortgagee in possession sales

The lender takes the home back and sells it to recover the loan. It must aim for the best price reasonably obtainable. Listings may say "sold on behalf of the mortgagee" rather than "repossessed".

LPA receiver and fixed charge receiver sales

For buy-to-let mortgages, lenders often appoint a receiver instead. The receiver collects the rent and sells the property, often with tenants still in place.

How repossessed homes reach the market

• Estate agents. Lenders and receivers instruct local agents.
• Property auctions. Many lender and receiver lots sell at auction, with legal packs online before the sale.
• Lender asset managers. Some lenders use specialist firms rather than high-street agents.
• Deal feeds. Repolist tracks repossession, receiver and auction listings in one place.

Frequently asked questions

How many homes are repossessed in the UK?

In April to June 2026, there were 1,008 mortgage repossessions and 6,560 landlord repossessions in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland publish separate figures.

Are repossessed houses cheaper?

Sometimes. Not always. Lenders must aim for market value. Discounts usually reflect condition, speed or tenancy.

How do I buy a repossessed house at auction?

Read the legal pack, view the property, and arrange funding first. You exchange contracts when the hammer falls. Completion is usually due within 28 days.

Can I get a mortgage on a repossessed house?

Yes, if the property is mortgageable. Homes without a working kitchen or bathroom may need bridging finance or cash first.

Which UK city has the most repossessions?

London has the most by far, at 10,901 in the 12 months to June 2026. Outside London, Birmingham recorded the most of any council, at 815.

How often are these figures updated?

The Ministry of Justice publishes new figures every quarter. We update these guides as new data comes out.

Find repossessed property with Repolist

Repolist tracks repossessions, receiver sales and auction lots across the UK. Every deal comes with the context to judge it. Start your free 7-day trial at repolist.co.uk.

This guide is for information only. It is not financial or legal advice. Always take independent advice before buying property.