Photo: 123RF Data out from the credit reporting firm Centrix shows a 10 percent increase in the number of mortgages in arrears in April, taking the total to about 11,900. The government-backed mortgage deferral scheme ended in March, prompting concerns that the level of arrears would rise sharply and possibly result in forced mortgagee sales. However, Centrix managing director Keith McLaughlin said the outlook was not as bleak as first thought. "I think [the level of mortgages in hardship] could have been a lot higher if there had not been as much co-operation between the lenders and the borrowers, and I think it really reflects well on the willingness of both parties to work through the difficult situations and either restructure loans or come up with some alternative way to avoid consumers going into hardship."