Homeowner's nightmare
Polop property taken over by squatters
A POLOP resident is living a homeowners' nightmare after he left his property empty while he was in Barcelona taking care of his convalescent mother.
A genuine fear of many non-permanent residents is leaving their property unoccupied.
This is particularly prevalent for those that do not live here full time, such as Brits who divide their time between the UK and Spain.
Security is key and if you are going away for some time endeavor to inform your neighbours to act as watchdogs. With soaring property and rental prices, squatting is sadly becoming more frequent and they do not discriminate who they target.
Polop resident Francisco Lopez went to Barcelona two years ago, to help look after his mother who had undergone an operation on her back and when he returned to his house this week, found it was occupied.
The main gate from the street which never had a lock, now had one fitted and the principal door into the property had had the lock completely changed. He immediately went to the police but was told that without a court order their hands are tied so with no other option, he slept in his car for six days, after which a friend who had read about his plight, invited him to stay at his house.
Guardia Civil advised him not to get his hopes up of a speedy resolve to the matter as it would have to go through a long process court process.
The lengthy and complicated Spanish justice system to evict squatters, creates openings for other means.
One business ‘Desokkupa’ based in Barcelona specializes in express evictions, which “op- erates on the fringes of legality” according to a spokesperson for the federal police union.
If the squatters cannot be paid to leave the property then staff, which include nightclub doormen, ex-prison officers and even former East European paramilitary members will wait at the entrance.
Eventually those inside will need to leave to buy food and will be stopped from going back in, until everyone vacates.
Perhaps if the legal system didn’t take so long and appear to favour and sympathize with those in the wrong then there wouldn’t be a need for such services.
Francisco, actually had a stroke of luck, when the squatter occupying his house gave in and handed him the keys. Although on entering he was shocked to find the premises had been emptied, all that was left was an old TV, a single chair and piles of rubbish.
He now has to paint, clean and buy furniture and will continue at his friend's place until his house is shipshape again.