In 2023, the number of property evictions carried out reached 26,659, down 30.3 percent from the previous year, according to figures released on Wednesday by the General Council of the Judiciary.
According to the report, 74.1 percent of the evictions, amounting to 19,676, resulted from proceedings under the Urban Leases Act. Another 5,260, or 19.7 percent, stemmed from mortgage foreclosures. The remaining 1,723 were due to other causes.
Evictions for Rentals Decline While Mortgage-Related Actions Grow
The evictions for unpaid rent fell by 28.5 percent year over year compared with 2022, and those arising from mortgage foreclosures dropped by 38.2 percent.
Regionally, Catalonia led with 7,148 evictions, representing 26.8 percent of the national total, followed by Andalusia with 4,449; the Valencian Community with 3,869; and Madrid with 2,367.
When considering only evictions under the Urban Leases Act, Catalonia again topped the list with 5,158, followed by Andalusia with 2,961; the Valencian Community with 2,673; and the Community of Madrid with 2,029.
The leading shares in evictions resulting from mortgage foreclosures were Catalonia with 1,264; Andalusia with 1,135; the Valencian Community with 1,049; and Murcia with 315.
Illegal Occupation of Homes Sees Fewer Procedures
In 2023, 2,261 possession procedures for illegal occupation of dwellings were filed, down 18.8 percent from 2022. Catalonia accounted for 445 of these cases, 23.6 percent of the national total. Andalusia followed with 424; the Valencian Community with 379; and Madrid with 215.
When adjusted for population, the highest incidence rate was in the Balearic Islands with 9.8 matters per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Castilla-La Mancha and the Valencian Community, both at 7.3, and the Canary Islands at 6.3.
Finally, the statistics show that in 2023 the specialized courts received 88,622 cases related to groundless or abusive mortgage clauses, up 11 percent from 2022. A total of 86,833 sentences were issued.