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Squatting in Spain: Understanding Spain's "okupas" problem

idealista.com

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Re: Squatting in Spain: Understanding Spain's "okupas" problem

#11

Post by Adrox »

diggan wrote: post #8
dheera wrote: post #4

One thing I don't get -- if the law doesn't help why don't the owners of these properties release fart spray everywhere and turn the heat up to max until it is unlivable?

> why don't the owners of these properties release fart spray everywhere and turn the heat up to max until it is unlivable? If the okupas have been there for longer than 48 hours without you trying to get rid of them, doing something like that could be considered harassment and/or endangering the occupants' health, so you'd probably face criminal charges for it. You're not allowed to alter the living conditions to fo…

Yup, lots of cases where the owners stopped paying/turned-off water, gas, electricity and the court made them turned them back on (and pay all the bills).

Re: Squatting in Spain: Understanding Spain's "okupas" problem

#13

Post by dheera »

diggan wrote: post #8
dheera wrote: post #4

One thing I don't get -- if the law doesn't help why don't the owners of these properties release fart spray everywhere and turn the heat up to max until it is unlivable?

> why don't the owners of these properties release fart spray everywhere and turn the heat up to max until it is unlivable? If the okupas have been there for longer than 48 hours without you trying to get rid of them, doing something like that could be considered harassment and/or endangering the occupants' health, so you'd probably face criminal charges for it. You're not allowed to alter the living conditions to fo…

What if your house already had fart spray releasers in the first place because you "love the smell", and your thermostat was "broken" in the first place?

When you live there you know how to "fix" them but otherwise you are not obligated to fix them.

Re: Squatting in Spain: Understanding Spain's "okupas" problem

#16

Post by novariation »

dheera wrote: post #4

One thing I don't get -- if the law doesn't help why don't the owners of these properties release fart spray everywhere and turn the heat up to max until it is unlivable?

I believe when they say the squatters have a "right to housing" it means "right to use a unit of housing that's not theirs as if they paid for it", which essentially means doing what you suggest would be illegal.

The reality of the legal dimensions is probably much more complex though, but it's helpful to have a simplistic mental picture of what's expected to happen.

Re: Squatting in Spain: Understanding Spain's "okupas" problem

#17

Post by greenavocado »

diggan wrote: post #8
dheera wrote: post #4

One thing I don't get -- if the law doesn't help why don't the owners of these properties release fart spray everywhere and turn the heat up to max until it is unlivable?

> why don't the owners of these properties release fart spray everywhere and turn the heat up to max until it is unlivable? If the okupas have been there for longer than 48 hours without you trying to get rid of them, doing something like that could be considered harassment and/or endangering the occupants' health, so you'd probably face criminal charges for it. You're not allowed to alter the living conditions to fo…

It's not within 48 hours of detecting them. It's within 48 hours of occupation. And they could always fabricate how long they have been there unless the area is under constant surveillance. Fabricating leases is very common.

Re: Squatting in Spain: Understanding Spain's "okupas" problem

#18

Post by dgan »

Oh wow I thought only France has squatting problem. here the squatters can legally occupy your place for 48 hours, and if that's your only place and you went away on vacation tough luck buddy, they can shit on the floor and tear the walls down

Good luck getting your money/property back

Re: Squatting in Spain: Understanding Spain's "okupas" problem

#19

Post by golergka »

diggan wrote: post #10
golergka wrote: post #6

Why would anyone invest in development in a country with such laws?

Because we have doors and windows closed, so in reality this isn't a huge issue. But historically, we've had huge issues with low employment, poverty and empty houses being all around you, while you cannot afford rent. Lots of empty houses + no employment + no money for rent = lets take this house and live in since no one lives there and we don't have a house currently. Basically, if you buy property, make sure to cl…

> Basically, if you buy property, make sure to close it and install a security system. If okupas appear, do the "legal fasttrack" and get them out within 48 hours and it won't be an issue.

Doesn't that make you not want to buy property in the first place? I'd rather buy it someplace where it can't be stolen.

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