Thousands have been evicted from their homes in Malaga

THOUSANDS of Malaga families have lost their homes in the wake of the economic crisis.

As many as 9,322 people in Malaga were evicted from their homes between September 2008 and 2013, said the General Council of the Judicial Power (CGPJ).  These daunting figures, however, which include evictees who defaulted on their mortgages or their rent payments, could increase to 10,000 if the first eight months of 2014 are taken into account.

Neither the new Mortgage Law passed by the Central Government in 2013, through which mortgagors can be granted mortgage extensions as a gesture of goodwill from banks, nor a ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union, which made it possible for mortgagors to denounce abusive mortgage terms before a court of law, have been enough to stop evictions.

Fortunately, the Spanish Government agreed to extend the two-year moratorium on evictions implemented in 2012 until 2015, said spokesperson for Stop Desahucios (Stop Evictions) in Malaga Isabel Jimenez talking to laopiniondemalaga.es.

The moratorium aims at protecting the most vulnerable homeowners who were unable to keep up with mortgage payments. However, only a small percentage of Spanish families fall into the category of “most vulnerable homeowners” and figures show that the number of evictions in Malaga during the first quarter of 2014 grew by 22 per cent when compared to the same period in 2013.

“There will be a surge in evictions in 2015 when the moratorium is lifted,” said Jimenez. According to her, the moratorium is but a band-aid solution. “But at least, for now, people remain in their homes,” she added.