A NEW legal services company formed to take advantage of the rising tide of home repossessions during the recession has attracted a £100,000 investment boost after showing early promise.

Hale-based Revival Action specialises in defending repossession orders and eviction notices and was formed by husband and wife team Luke and Deborah Memory, with John Dalzell.

The number of repossessions in the UK rose to more that 270,000 in the 12 months to the end of June 2009, up 80 per cent on the previous year.

Revival Action, which has four staff, was formed in June and aims to overturn repossession orders by negotiating new payment plans with lenders for its clients

It has access to 220 legal representatives across the country to whom it refers its clients.

Luke said: “With many homeowners facing growing financial difficulties, mortgage lenders are putting their customers under more pressure to collect arrears, using the threat of repossession to force higher payments.

“As a result, there is a stark need for more comprehensive support to handle the increasing number of repossession orders and eviction notices being issued in court.

“What we do is plug the defendant into the right resource wherever they are based. So far we have won 96 per cent of our cases and saved more than 100 homes.

“I believe that this is the tip of the iceberg because lenders are not showing any flexibility at the moment.”

Luke believes his company's straightforward pricing structure, with flat fees for specific services, differentiates it from other legal service providers.

And the growing sector has attracted investment from an unnamed private investor, who has acquired a 20 per cent stake in the business for £100,000, with further funding available over a five-year period.

Luke said: “The additional funding will enable us to expand our network of legal affiliates across the country and enable the firm to handle greater case loads.”