Squatters swap Britons' villa for luxury hotel
Family's holiday home in Jávea was 'occupied' during lockdown
THE housekeepers of a British family's villa in Jávea have struck a deal with a family of squatters who occupied the property during lockdown.
The squatters will now go on to a luxury hotel vacation that will allow the rightful owners to finally enjoy their postponed holiday.
ILLEGAL squatters agreed to leave a Jávea villa after being given cash to fund a 10-day taste of hotel luxury.
A British family will now be able to enjoy a delayed holiday at their holiday home in the Castellans area of the Marina Alta town after being forced to cancel flights two weeks ago.
A peace deal was brokered between the young couple who broke into the villa and the family’s housekeeper. In exchange for leaving, the two squatters - a 25-year-old man and his 19-year-old partner - were given the temporary accommodation and promised legal proceedings would be halted.
The housekeeper arrived at the property two weeks ago to prepare for the arrival of the owners but discovered the locks had been broken and there was washing hanging on the line.
Police were called but were unable to act without a court order. Housekeeper Evelyn warned the owners of the situation and they cancelled flights.
She said the family were ‘very upset’ at having to scrap the holiday - her employer was gradually renovating the villa and planned to retire to Jávea and make it a full time home.
However, Evelyn and her husband were able to negotiate with the couple to ‘end this nightmare’ and were happy to ‘recover’ a vacation for their employers.
She said locks had since been changed and security increased at a cost of around €5,000 in order to prevent the villa being targeted again.
It is understood the squatters were initially made homeless by their landlord, and they claimed they were left on the street without being offered any help from charitable organisations in Jávea.
Squatting has become a problem throughout Spain, and has increased with holiday homes left empty during lockdown. Next week Costa Blanca News will carry a report regarding what you can (and cannot) do if your home has been 'occupied'.