New figures from the Financial Services Authority (FSA) have revealed that the number of homes repossessed because borrowers had fallen behind on their mortgage payments increased by 15% during 2009, the Telegraph reports.

The figures showed that 54,055 homes were repossessed throughout the year – up from the 46,945 seen in 2008.

However, during the final three-month period of 2009, there was a fall in both the number of repossessions and the number of people falling behind on their mortgage payments. Around 11,800 homes were repossessed during Q4 – 15% fewer than the figure recorded in Q3.

An IVA expert for the IVA Forum said: “The figures suggest that more people were struggling with their mortgage payments during 2009. We would advise anyone who experiences difficulties when repaying their mortgage – or any debt for that matter – to seek professional debt advice without delay.”