For the fourth quarter of 2011, the period for which new data is available, the number of repossessions was 8,500 - nearly 9% down from 9,300 in the third quarter but 5% up from 8,100 in the fourth quarter of 2010.
The CML also said there continued to be a modest improvement in arrears in the fourth quarter and in 2011 as a whole compared with 2010. At the end of 2011, 159,400 mortgages had arrears equivalent to 2.5% or more of the mortgage balance, 7.5% down from 172,400 at the end of 2010.
Buy-to-let properties accounted for 5,900 of the repossessions in 2011, up from 4,700 in 2010. The overall repossession rate was 0.32% in 2011 - 0.31% on owner-occupied properties and 0.42% on buy-to-let.
This compared with an overall rate of 0.33% in 2010 - 0.32% on owner-occupied properties and 0.36% on buy-to-let.
The higher repossession rate on buy-to-let was not reflected in the arrears experience, however, with the buy-to-let sector experiencing a lower level of arrears than the owner-occupier sector.
While the 3 months arrears rate stood at 1.98% of all mortgages at the end of 2011, the proportion was higher among owner-occupiers (2.06%) than among buy-to-let mortgage holders (1.38% if receiver of rent cases were excluded; 1.79% if included).
Although arrears and repossessions throughout 2011 were fairly stable, the CML has no plans to revise its current 2012 forecasts for the year.
Worsening unemployment and continuing pressures on the cost of living seem likely to result in some further deterioration in the position of households in 2012. The CML anticipates that this is likely to result in around 45,000 repossessions and around 180,000 mortgages in arrears of 2.5% or more by the end of the year.
CML director general, Paul Smee, said: "Low interest rates and good arrears management by lenders are helping the vast majority of those borrowers who face difficulties to keep their homes and get back on track.
“This will continue but in the face of wider economic difficulties and rising unemployment we are concerned that there will be a higher number of people facing more serious problems in 2012.”
