Evictions are skyrocketing but have not yet reached pre-pandemic figures. The number of evictions carried out in 2021 amounted to 41,359, a figure 40.6% higher than that of 2020 but 23.4% below that of 2019, before the pandemic, as reported this Friday by the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ), which has specified that these data do not only affect homes, but also other properties. Seven out of ten releases registered in 2021, specifically 28,993, were procedures derived from the Urban Leasing Law (LAU), while 10,103 (24.4%) were the result of non-payment of mortgages and the remaining 2,263 were due to other causes.
Taking only the evictions derived from the non-payment of the mortgage, these rose 46.1% compared to 2020, but fell 28.8% compared to 2019. For their part, releases derived from the LAU (non-payment of rent) increased by 37.1% over 2020 and decreased by 20.5% in relation to 2019. Catalonia, with 9,398 (22.7% of the national total) was the Autonomous Community in which the most throws were practiced in 2021, followed by Andalusia, with 6,615; the Valencian Community, with 6,182, and Madrid, with 4,039.
36.2% increase in foreclosures
According to CGPJ data, 27,874 foreclosures were initiated in 2021, 36.2% more than in 2020. However, compared to 2019, before the outbreak of Covid, foreclosures decreased by 28.8%. The largest number was in Catalonia, with 5,848; followed by Andalusia, with 5,703; Valencian Community, with 4,794; Madrid (2,523) and Murcia (1,675).
Contests are also growing
The CGPJ statistics also show an increase, in this case of 37.5%, in the number of contests presented in 2021, up to a total of 18,892. This figure also exceeds 57% that of 2019, before the pandemic, according to the report ‘Effects of the economic crisis on judicial bodies’ of the Judicial Power. Of the 18,892 contests recorded last year, 10,006 were filed by natural persons without business activity, whose jurisdiction corresponds to the Courts of First Instance and First Instance and Instruction. The remaining 8,886 insolvencies were registered in the Commercial Courts and of these, 5,374 were legal entities and 3,512 natural persons were entrepreneurs.
Insolvency proceedings involving natural persons without business activity increased by 45.6% in 2021 compared to 2020 and almost double those of 2019. Catalonia was the autonomous community with the most competitions of this type, with a total of 2,642, followed by Madrid, with 1,661; Andalusia (1,307), and the Valencian Community (1,243). In the case of company bankruptcy, Catalonia also registered the highest number, with 2,976, a third of the national total. They are followed by Madrid (1,518) and Comunidad Valenciana (1,178). These contests increased throughout Spain by 29.4% compared to 2020 and 27.9% compared to 2019.
Procedures for floor clauses rise 5%
According to the report, the payment procedures filed in 2021 were 804,686which represents an increase of 13.5% compared to 2020 and 11.6% compared to 2019.
As explained by the CGPJ, the payment procedure is used to claim liquid monetary debts, determined, due and payable, and include the amounts due for common expenses of communities of urban property owners. In 2021, 116,293 cases of this nature entered the courts specialized in ground clauses, 5% more than in 2020. 123,938 sentences were issued.
More than 3,700 illegal occupations of housing
In 2021, 3,479 verbal possession matters were registered for illegal occupation of homes, 1% more than in 2020 and 13.4% less than in 2019. The largest number of lawsuits was filed in Catalonia, 930, which represent 26.7% of the national total. They are followed by Andalusia, with 814; the Valencian Community, with 423, and Madrid, with 263. Since the third quarter of 2018, statistical information has been available on verbal possession trials for illegal occupation of homes for cases in which the owners are natural persons, non-profit entities, profit, or public entities that own social housing.
