Number of mortgages in arrears falls by 3.5% 

As of the end of March this year, there were just under 700,000 private residential mortgage accounts for principal dwellings, with a combined outstanding balance of €110bn.

Data from the Central Bank show 34,996 mortgage accounts in arrears as of the end of March. Stock picture

The number of mortgages in arrears declined by 3.5% during the first three months of this year due in large part to a decline in accounts in arrears longer than 90 days, new data from the Central Bank of Ireland shows.

As of the end of March this year, there were just under 700,000 private residential mortgage accounts for principal dwellings across the country. The combined outstanding balance of these mortgages stand at €110bn.

Of the total stock, 34,996, or 5%, were in arrears, a decrease of 1,257 accounts since the end of December. The Central Bank said this decline was “driven entirely” by a reduction in the volume of accounts in arrears longer than 90 days.

Of all mortgages in arrears, 21,302, or 3%, were in arrears for more than 90 days, down from 22,657 at the end of December. This is the lowest share of accounts in arrears over 90 days on record.

The outstanding balance accounts in arrears for more than 90 days was €4.5bn.

There were 15,807 mortgages in arrears for more than a year. Accounts in arrears over a year had an outstanding balance of €3.7bn which accounted for 61% of the balance on all accounts in arrears.

There were 13,694 accounts in arrears in less than 90 days.

A total stock of 53,818 private dwelling mortgage accounts were categorised as restructured at the end of the quarter. The total number of restructure arrangements decreased by 1,130 accounts over the quarter.

85% of restructured accounts not in arrears

Of the total stock of restructured accounts, 85% were not in arrears, while 88% were meeting the terms of their current restructure arrangement.

In terms of buy-to-let properties, there were 46,272 residential mortgage accounts with an outstanding balance of €6.5bn. There were 5,708 of these accounts in arrears at the end of March, a decrease of 326 accounts over the quarter and a decrease of 941 accounts in annual terms.

Of the total buy-to-let stock, 4,519 accounts were more than 90 days in arrears, a decrease of 326 accounts quarter-on-quarter.

BTL accounts in arrears of over one year numbered 3,846. The outstanding balance on these accounts was €1.4bn.

When it comes to legal proceedings against accounts in arrears, of all the private home mortgage account in arrears, 59% or 20,575 had no formal demand issued. A further 14%, or 5,024 accounts, were at the formal demand issued stage, but legal proceedings had not yet commenced.

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Another 5,198 accounts currently had legal proceedings in process; this includes cases at civil bill lodgement stage and instances where the case is still active in the courts system.

During the first quarter of 2026, a total of 27 private homes were taken into possession by lenders. During the quarter, 26 properties were disposed of by lenders. As a result, lenders were in possession of 120 properties at the end of March.

A further three buy-to-let properties were taken into possession by the lender during the quarter while five properties were disposed of. As a result, lenders were in possession of 45 buy-to-let properties.