After tabling an Assembly Question to the Social Development Minister, it was revealed to Mark H Durkan MLA that house repossessions have almost trebled between 2008 and 2011.
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Mr Durkan said: "Given the serious and deeply worrying number of repossessions over the past three years, I dread to think what the figures will be like this year.
"There needs to be action taken in the Programme for Government to assist home owners, such as with a mortgage relief scheme.
"Otherwise the social and financial cost will be huge with homelessness soaring and family breakdown a likely side effect.
"The tenancy rights of people must also be addressed. In too many cases private tenants are left homeless and without their deposit being returned when a landlord has their house repossessed."
(CD/GK)
