The number of claims made by private sector landlords to repossess a property has fallen by 26 per cent over the past two years.

An analysis of Government statistics by the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) found that the number of possession claims made to county courts in Wales fell from a 203 in the first quarter of 2014 to 150 between July and September 2016. This represents 11 per cent of all claims.

In the third quarter of 2016, social sector landlords made 999 claims to repossess a property in Wales, 75 per cent of the overall total.

The figures were revealed as the Welsh Assembly debated a motion calling on the Government to work with local authorities, “To ensure that no households with children face eviction in Wales.”

The RLA says that whilst every instance of a child losing a home is tragic, landlords need to retain the right to regain possession of a property where a tenant is not paying their rent or committing anti-social behaviour.

The RLA’s Director for Wales, Douglas Haig, commented, “No landlord will ever want to lose tenants who are paying their rent and taking care of their property.

“That said, landlords and lenders need the confidence that where a tenant is not behaving or is failing to pay rent they can regain possession of a property. Sadly that will sometimes involve children.”