An average of three people every day in the county have had mortgage possession claims issued in the first three months of the year – an increase of 27 per cent on the same period last year and one of the highest rises in the country.
So far this year 658 people have been taken to court, more than half coming from Kettering, Wellingborough and Corby.
Nationally, there has been a rise of 16 per cent in claims issued – with Northamptonshire seeing the fifth biggest increase.
Figures from the Ministry of Justice revealed 199 claims were issued in Kettering and Corby and 138 from the Wellingborough area.
Simon Woodham, from Simon Karl Estate Agents, in Rothwell, said although he had not seen an increase in the number of repossessions, there had been a rise in the number of people going through the first stages of court action.
He said: "I think more landlords are letting out their properties rather than selling them, to see what happens in a few months."
A spokesman for the county's Citizen's Advice Bureau said at least 1,000 people had contacted a new hotline in the last three months. The Government announced yesterday that families who face having their house repossessed will get free legal help to avoid losing their homes.
A claim is the first stage of a house repossession but not all orders result in people losing their homes.
Homeowner Rachel Peace, a single mum in Duke Street, Kettering, said: "I'm not surprised so many repossession claims have been issued. People who took a mortgage out three or four years ago, and had to stretch themselves then, will be struggling to make ends meet now.
"My fixed rate mortgage runs out this time next year and I'm concerned that there won't be the choice or competition when it ends."
Christopher Cook, head of accounting and finance at the University of Northampton, said the increase in repossessions was largely because many fixed-rate mortgage deals issued at favourable rates several years ago were coming to an end coupled with rising utility and food bills.
He said: "Many people who should not have been given loans the first time around, when banks were falling over themselves to lend, are now having to remortgage in much more difficult circumstances."
Anyone who has concerns about their mortgage payments can call Citizens Advice Bureau on 0844 855 2122.