Spain is seeing a growing problem of illegal home occupation — known as “squatting.” Official data shows that in 2024 alone, 16,500 legal complaints were filed specifically against squatters. Experts say this is due to a ban on evicting socially vulnerable people without a court order and the heavy backlog in the judicial system.
According to lawyer Jorge Dies, current laws are overly tolerant toward “weak” social groups, undermining property owners’ legal protection. As a result, many landlords are afraid to rent out their homes, as evicting a non-paying tenant can take up to two years, during which police cannot intervene.
Vacant properties are often exploited by criminal groups, who place squatters inside and later offer paid “peaceful eviction” services. The opposition People’s Party has pledged to restore property owners’ rights and toughen existing laws if it comes to power.
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