Mortgage lenders should face penalties for repossessing homes too quickly, MPs have urged.
The Commons Communities and Local Government Committee criticised the "precipitate" action being taken against the increasing numbers of people getting into arrears.
And it said in a report that attempts by the Government to limit repossessions cannot be enforced.
It welcomed measures to help secure mortgage holidays for people who lose their jobs in the credit crunch and the introduction of a new protocol for those lenders considering action.
But it went on: "We are concerned, however, that the Government seems powerless to affect lender behaviour, with Financial Services Authority guidelines and the Government's new pre-action protocol on repossession lacking enforceability."
The Council of Mortgage Lenders has predicted 75,000 repossessions during 2009, compared to 45,000 in 2008 and Citizens Advice has warned that some lenders are treating repossession as a first resort rather than last.
The cross-party committee called for the Government's new Lender's Panel, which is to improve the monitor of lending, to look also at repossession action.
The committee raised concerns about funding for social house-building in future years after £975 million was brought forward from 2010/11. It said the construction target of 45,000 for that year was already inadequate, while more money would have to be found even to achieve that.
The committee said a greater proportion of new homes ought to be stipulated as social housing.
It backed the Government's decision not to give up its housing targets - even though they are now unlikely to be met because of the credit crunch - as they still reflected demand.
