Squatters in Spain

Squatting has been a long-standing issue in Spain, with many people taking advantage of the legal loopholes to stay in properties without paying rent. This situation has caused a lot of distress to landlords, who often find themselves unable to evict their tenants due to the lengthy and complicated eviction process. In this article, we will discuss the legality of squatting in Spain and look at how long it takes for an eviction to take place.

We know that it does sound strange, but Okupas have considerably more rights in Spain than in any other country. The most amazing story happened right here, in Sitges. In this case, the owner decided, to for the safety of his home, to hire a lawyer-like agent who negotiated with the Okupas privately and agreed on a certain amount, after which they have left the apartment. Concerning the time it takes to wait for the Court decision, we think that he did the right choice. 

If you own a second home here that you use for your holidays, you could be at risk of having it illegally occupied. One of the biggest problems is related to the time it takes for the courts to issue a sentence that allows the squatters to be evicted.

According to data provided by the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ), the average period that property owners in Spain have to wait to evict an illegal squatter in 2021 was 18.1 months. In other words, it currently takes just over a year and a half for final court rulings to evict squatters in Spain.

How do I get rid of squatters in Spain?

It can be difficult to know what to do if you find yourself in such a situation. In some cases, the police may be able to help. If someone has installed themselves in your property, the first thing you should do is to collect all the possible evidence regarding ownership of the property, call the police and file a police report. If the occupants have arrived within the last 48 hours, then the police can remove them. However, it is important to report the situation as soon as possible so that the police have time to take action.

Squatters in Spain move quickly: once they have entered a property they will move in their own belongings and change the locks. This creates the appearance that they live in the property and they are then afforded squatters rights, making the legal process to remove them a frustratingly time-consuming one. You are even legally required to continue paying all utility bills at the property for your squatters: refusing to do so could actually result in you being reported to the police for intimidation and coercion. 

Yes, you are right, it is a nightmare. That is why most of our clients has decided to work with us, and have their homes checked weekly or biweekly. Safety checking could be done at different times of the day, not regularly. Finding the best value Security company is also hard from abroad. Let us help you to keep your property safe, to secure your investment. 

Link to an article in Idealista: here 

Featured photo: Idealista