Repossessions made by second-charge mortgage providers were down by 24.1% in 2012 compared with the previous year, according to latest figures from the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA).

In the total, second-charge mortgage lenders repossessed 628 properties last year.

However, the sample for 2012 is different to 2011 because of a change to second-charge mortgage providers in FLA membership. On a same sample basis, the number of possessions fell in 2012 by 11.1% compared with 2011.

Fiona Hoyle, head of consumer finance at the FLA, said: “2012 saw a further fall in the number of repossessions made by second-charge mortgage providers. We expect repossessions in 2013 to be at a similar level to last year.

“If customers are experiencing difficulties with meeting their repayments, they should contact their lender to discuss the situation. As always, repossession is a measure of last resort used only after all other measures have failed.”