If you thought that it was only homeowners who were facing the threat of repossession, think again. The numbers of homeowners defaulting on home loan repayments has risen sharply since the credit crunch, but it turns out that homeowners are not the only families at risk of eviction.

News out from Shelter, the housing charity, shows that tenants are facing a grave risk of being evicted from their homes as more and more buy-to-let properties are claimed back by lenders. In fact, whereas repossessions on privately owned homes have risen by 48%, buy-to-let properties repossessions have increased by 100%.

For families who are already pushed to the limit and who have been unable to get on to the property ladder, this news is dire. Many of those living in rented property have been struggling to maintain a reasonable lifestyle, as fuel bills and food costs rocket. The thought of losing the roof over their head could be the last straw.

Whilst laws are in place to protect tenants, nothing can be done where a lender has repossessed the very property they inhabit. Those whose rent from private landlords may even find that their deposit is not protected should the landlord be declared bankrupt, leaving the tenant left with little option but to borrow the money for a new deposit.

With so many families living close to the breadline, having to take out personal loans or borrow on credit cards in order to get a new tenancy could be beyond them.