UK debt advice clients: mortgage and secured loan arrears
UK debt advice clients: mortgage and secured loan arrears stood at 972 people in Aug 2026. It is one of the indicators in the Debt advice table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 2019 to Aug 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Debt advice table
| Indicator | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt advice by type of debt | |||||||||||
| Mortgage and secured loan arrears | 972 | 1,074 | 1,041 | 917 | 982 | 1,026 | 910 | 984 | 742 | 881 | |
| Rent arrears | 5,645 | 6,474 | 6,222 | 5,582 | 6,026 | 6,597 | 6,253 | 6,270 | 5,089 | 5,967 |
Understanding UK debt advice clients: mortgage and secured loan arrears
Advisory intake records quantify the monthly frequency of individuals seeking housing assistance across the United Kingdom who report formal arrears on mortgages or secured personal loans. This metric focuses exclusively on borrowing tied against residential property, separating secured housing liabilities from unsecured consumer credit or rental arrears. It counts borrowers facing potential possession proceedings or severe repayment distress.
When examining these figures, analysts must account for changes in official benchmark interest rates and their transmission into variable mortgage repayments. Period-on-period figures often reflect temporary administrative delays in lender repossession actions rather than genuine shifts in underlying borrower hardship. Comparing these counts against unsecured debt series requires noting that mortgage distress carries distinct legal consequences that alter client seeking behaviour.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this series include unsecured personal loans?
- No, the measure is strictly limited to borrowing secured against residential property.
- What triggers a count in this mortgage arrears category?
- Clients are recorded when they seek advisory help specifically due to missed mortgage instalments or secured loan default notices.
- Why might monthly figures fluctuate unexpectedly?
- Changes in lender forbearance practices and the timing of legal notice issuance can cause short-term variations in intake volumes.