The Canary Islands experienced a dramatic 200% increase in evictions during the first quarter of 2024, the highest rise in Spain, according to official data from the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ). From January to March, there were 114 eviction cases, compared to just 38 during the same period in 2023.
The CGPJ report, released yesterday (Friday), highlights that the Canary Islands ranked third in the country for the highest rate of evictions due to mortgage foreclosures, with 5.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. This rate was only surpassed by Murcia (7.2) and Valencia (5.3).
Evictions resulting from non-compliance with the Urban Leases Law (LAU), which pertains to unpaid rent, increased by 23% in the Canary Islands. There were 380 cases in the first quarter of 2024, up from 308 in the same period of last year.
The Canary Islands also had the second-highest rate of evictions due to unpaid rent, with 17 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, trailing only behind Catalonia, which had 17.3.
Overall, the total number of evictions in the Canary Islands (including those due to mortgage foreclosures, rent defaults, and other causes) rose by 41%, from 366 cases in the first quarter of 2023 to 516 in the same period of 2024. The islands had the second-highest total eviction rate in the country, with 23.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Despite the rise in evictions, the CGPJ's statistical reports indicate a decrease in mortgage foreclosure processes in the Canary Islands, with a 9.7% drop from 2,392 cases in the first quarter of 2023 to 2,160 in the same period of 2024.
The CGPJ's analysis of the effects of the economic crisis reveals that the Canary Islands had the highest rate of dismissal procedures in Spain, with 114.6 claims per 100,000 inhabitants in the winter of 2024. This was followed by the Valencian Community (106.6) and Catalonia (102.1). The increase in dismissal claims was moderate, rising by 1.4% from 2,531 in the first quarter of 2023 to 2,567 in the same period of 2024.
The CGPJ report also highlights that bankruptcy declarations (for both individuals and businesses) in the Canary Islands were not as severe in the first quarter of 2024 as in previous periods. There were 608 bankruptcy declarations, an 11.8% increase from 544 in the same period of 2023, compared to a 41.1% increase nationwide.
Nationally, the most significant year-on-year increase in bankruptcy proceedings was seen in non-business personal bankruptcies, which rose by 52.2%. In the Canary Islands, these cases increased by 19.1%, from 493 in the winter of 2023 to 587 in 2024.
In the Canary Islands, bankruptcies of legal entities fell by 58%, from 43 cases in the first quarter of 2023 to 18 in the same period of 2024. Bankruptcies of self-employed individuals also dropped by 62.5%, from eight cases in the winter of 2023 to three in 2024.
The Canary Islands had the lowest rates in the country for both types of bankruptcies, with 0.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants for legal entities and 0.1 for self-employed individuals.
The CGPJ data also show a 9.7% decrease in wage claim cases (disputes over contract obligations in labour courts) in the Canary Islands, from 2,392 in the winter of 2023 to 2,160 in 2024.
These figures highlight the significant challenges faced by residents of the Canary Islands in terms of housing stability and economic security in the first quarter of 2024.
