At least 40,000 households have run up a three-month arrears in their mortgage payments, according to new figures from the debt registration agency BKR.

In the third quarter of 2009, 32,000 people owed at least three months in payments, but the number of mortgages has remained stable, BKR said.
Divorce is the most common reason for people being unable to pay a mortgage. This is because a mortgage is often based on two salaries.