Evictions: over 40,000 orders in a year – three out of four due to rent arrears
Eviction is not the only possible outcome. When it comes to dealing with rent arrears identified by the company, 43 per cent of respondents indicated that eviction proceedings would be initiated
In 2024, judges issued over 40,000 eviction orders, around three in four of which were due to rent arrears or other reasons. In the same year, 81,054 enforcement requests were submitted to bailiffs, including those relating to decisions from previous years. A total of 21,337 evictions were actually carried out. This is the picture reconstructed by the SoloAffitti Research Department based on national data.
Measures are on the rise
Compared with 2023, the total number of enforcement measures rose by around 2 per cent, whilst those relating to rent arrears or other causes fell by 2.2 per cent. Applications for enforcement increased by around 10 per cent, whilst the number of evictions carried out remained broadly stable. The data do not allow us to distinguish the causes of rent arrears.
However, SoloAffitti’s survey on lettings indicates that 37 per cent of tenants cite rents exceeding their budget as one of the obstacles they face when looking for a home. 74 per cent of landlords say they have, in their experience of letting, accumulated outstanding rent arrears.
The alternatives
Eviction is not the only possible outcome. When dealing with rent arrears identified by the company, 43 per cent of respondents indicated that eviction proceedings were initiated. Thirty-three per cent indicate a direct agreement with the tenant to vacate the property, 17 per cent a voluntary handover with rent still outstanding, and 7 per cent the activation of a guarantee or insurance policy. The handover of the keys, therefore, does not necessarily coincide with the settlement of the debt. 78 per cent of landlords select tenants based on their income, but the initial check does not eliminate the risk of subsequent difficulties.
“Eviction is the final stage of a situation that needs to be addressed much earlier,” observes Silvia Spronelli, managing director of SoloAffitti. When a family can no longer afford the rent, she explains, the debt can mount up to the point where finding a solution becomes difficult. This is why “prompt action is needed to support those in difficulty”, alongside measures to ensure that rent payments continue.
