The case concerns the occupation of a redeveloped, four-storey block of luxury apartments on the Carrer Emili Darder in Palma. In May 2019, squatters forced their way in to the building and occupied all four apartments (one per storey). The redevelopment had just been completed and the apartments were on the point of being handed over to the buyers.
The developer went to the building and first offered them 500 euros each to leave. This was then raised to 1,000 euros. The squatters refused to go. Desperate to be able to hand the keys to the purchasers, the developer hired a firm of private investigators in order to try and find a quick way out of the situation. In the end, the squatters were paid 8,000 euros and left.
At the trial which took place last week, the developer told the court that if he hadn't paid, he would have faced financial ruin. The leader of the squatter gang was sentenced to three years for extortion and nine months for membership of a criminal organisation. The other three were sentenced to two years and six months.
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The eviction laws in Spain need overlauling. If an occupant cannot show a current valid rental contract to the Police, they should be evicted on the spot, with say 24 hours to vacate the property. This would encourage property ownership, and benefit the tax collectors at the same time.
This should be the outcome for every case of squatting, regardless of the circumstances, and the recovery of property and prosecution should be immediate as soon as the owner reports it to the police. Let’s see longer sentences too. These squatters inflict misery and financial hardship on others without a second thought.
The real problem is the leagal system that makes this possible. Is has been a problem for years and home owners risk getting ruined.
Quite ironic really. Now they all will be squatting in someone else's cell.!
At least they now have somewhere to stay for a couple of years which should make them happy. No?
Well deserved.