The Spanish Courts processed 58,241 eviction orders during 2011, a record high and a 22% increase over 2010.
The eviction orders were mostly in cases where either the tenant could not pay the rent or the property owner was not able to meet the mortgage repayments. Unemployment and the continuing financial crisis were the main reason for default.
Valencia topped the list of eviction orders with 13,711 foreclosures, followed by Andalucia with 9,864 and Madrid with 9,460. Bottom of the list was La Rioja with a mere 244 foreclosures.