Squatters

Squatters (in Spanish, ocupas) are people who enter someone else’s home or property and stay there without the owner’s permission.

What the law says depends on each case. If the property is somebody’s dwelling, the Código Penal (Spanish Criminal Code) speaks of allanamiento de morada (article 202). If it is not a dwelling, it may be usurpación (article 245). How your situation fits has to be assessed by a lawyer.

What is in your hands is making things difficult. In Torrevieja and the Vega Baja there are many second homes that stay shut for months, and they are the ones that cause most concern. A high security cylinder, an escutcheon, an additional bolt and roller shutters that cannot be lifted all help.

If you find people inside, do not go in or force anything: call the police. We explain everything on our protection against squatters and home occupied by squatters pages.