Landlords had 1,800 buy-to-let properties repossessed in the first six months of this year, according to figures released by mortgage lenders.

This is double the number of properties repossessed in the same period last year.

Council of Mortgage Lenders figures show 1.1%, or 12,133 home loans are in arrears, compared with 0.63% or 5,837, in the same period last year.

CML director general Michael Coogan said: “The shortage of mortgage funding is creating similar problems for buy-to-let landlords as it is for other borrowers.”

Mr Coogan added buy-to-let landlords should benefit from increased demand, as people who want to buy will have to rent because of the mortgage crisis. He expects this to increase rental demand and to reduce ‘voids’ – the time rental property is empty between tenancies.