Hundreds of homeowners are being forced to sell their property each month by banks trying to claw back credit card debts of as little as £1,000.

The number of people being hit by charging orders at county courts in Sussex has quadrupled in the past five years to 4,065.

The figures have risen sharply across the county, including in Brighton where the use of the orders has grown from 434 to 2,517 between 2003 and 2007.

The Consumer Credit Counselling Service, the national debt advice charity, said the orders were unfair and that it was worried about the banks’ growing use of them.

A spokesman said the charity had received calls from people who were being forced to sell their homes to pay off debts as low as £1,000.

He said: “We have seen an increase in people being issued charging orders.

“We are anxious about them as it gives the lenders all the cards and it is disproportionate when it is used for small amounts of money.”

Charging orders can be used by creditors who have already obtained a county court judgment against a debtor.

If the debt is not met, banks can then apply for a charging order which forces the person to sell their home, or other assets such as shares, even if the debt is an unsecured loan or credit card bill.

David Lepper, the MP for Brighton Pavilion, said: “You would expect the banks to take circumstances and the scale of the debt into account before asking for a charging order. This should really be used as a last resort.

“People are going to find themselves in difficult times in the short term and it would be better to come to other types of arrangements.”

Under new legislation, which has received Royal Assent but is on hold, banks are to be given the power to seek a charging order after two or three months of missed payments and without going to court.

Mr Lepper said these rules should remain on hold while the economy is fragile.

The news emerged as figures revealed that the number of families at risk of losing their home after falling behind on their mortgage payment is on the rise.

Between July and September this year lenders applied for repossession orders against 788 houses and flats in the county.