Around 1.7 million borrowers are supported by the government's mortgage charter, figures from the Financial Conduct Authority reveal.
Around 149,000 mortgages have had their monthly payments temporarily reduced as a result of the new FCA rules, according to FCA data. 
Approximately 214,000 mortgage payments were reduced by people temporarily switching to interest-only payments or extending the term of their mortgage. This represents approximately 2.6% of regulated mortgage contracts.
Of those who extended their mortgage term, 547 people withdrew it. The FCA said this suggests that borrowers seeking temporary payment reductions are likely to choose interest-only periods.
Latest statistics show 159 properties were repossessed within 12 months of missing the first payment.
Companies report that these are due to customer-driven reasons, such as voluntary possession and abandoned/vacant properties.
Under this charter, lenders have agreed to offer a number of options to help distressed borrowers reduce their payments during the forbearance period.
The FCA said some of these forbearances would have been provided under the lender's normal operating policies.
Therefore, it is impossible to completely separate the actions taken through the Charter.
