Three measures to protect your house from squatters and thieves

Ask the Architect By Juan Pacheco

Prevention is key to stopping the illegal occupation of a home that is for sale or closed during good part of the year. Take note of these ideas and put them into practice

The illegal occupation of homes in Spain constitutes a threat to any property owner. According to data from the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, in recent years the increase in this type of crime has been exponential: today there are about 33 cases a day throughout the country, while five years ago were only 21 reported. Given this scenario, if you have an uninhabited house, you must take precautions, especially if you are thinking of selling the property, since to recover it you could have to take the case to court.

In this article I will give you three tips to protect your home from squatters and of course burglars.

1. Visit the house frequently and be discreet

One of the ways to scare squatters is to create the impression that the house or apartment is inhabited. Therefore, if your routine and the distance allows it, it is advisable to visit the house with some regularity to be able to carry out actions that give the impression that the property is occupied, such as collecting letters from the mailbox, turning on the lights and raising the blinds.

If this is not possible because you are in another town/city, consider leaving the keys with a relative, friend or neighbour, so that they can visit the apartment or villa from time to time.

According to the Spanish National Police, it is convenient to rely on a person you trust to do the distraction work, so that it does not appear that the house is uninhabited.

There are gadgets that can turn lights on or open shutters etc. by using an app and can be activated from any part of the world as long as you have Wi-Fi.

On the other hand, security experts advise that, if you are in a possibly vulnerable situation, you should avoid giving too many details about our circumstances and your dayto-day routine. Although we love to share stories on Instagram or Facebook with regards to our trips, it is important to be careful with regard to making it public that you are not at home because of a holiday, you want to sell or you are not nearby.

We must bear in mind that most illegal occupations are planned: squatters carefully study their victims to find out the best time to attack.

Therefore, the movements and information that we publish on our social networks can serve as a guide to the best moment to strike. As well as what you tell people in public.

2. Install a sturdy lock and secure doors and windows

If your apartment has an old door, it is advisable to change the lock and install a solid door that is resistant to violent attacks and tricks.

With regard to locks, some locksmith companies offer several ‘armoured’ options, ranging from €200 to €700, (there are even more expensive) depending on the level of robustness required and the complexity of the system.

In addition, if the house is located on the ground floor, you must reinforce the windows and doors that overlook the terrace or patio.

To do this, you can install locks or internal safety locks that make opening them difficult. Thus, the criminals will have to devote more time and effort gaining access through the window or, failing that, will have to break them, which raises the risk of being discovered by the neighbours.

3. Get an alarm system and security cameras

This is the safest way to protect your home and reduce the possibility of unwanted problems. If we obtain the services of a security company, you will have a whole team monitoring your house 24 hours a day. In addition, they put at your disposal all of the leading technology necessary to detect intrusion attempts, trigger the alarm at the slightest danger signal and promptly notify the police.

On the other hand, thanks to the security cameras installed in the property, they can see what is happening inside the house and keep a record of it, which can serve as reliable evidence when reporting a possible occupation. Another advantage is that, with the use of a mobile phone, they allow the owner to track and view images from the interior of the property, at any time they want.

The price of an alarm and security system will depend on the company you choose. But, in general, the cost of installing the mechanism can be around €250. In addition to this, in most cases, you must pay a monthly fee for the service. This ranges between €30 and €60, depending on the type of contract.

In short, if the apartment you want to sell is unoccupied, it is vital that you take all the precautions that you can to protect it from possible squatters or burglars. These simple tips can help with the task and, although some measures require an expense, this will be much less than you will have to face if you become a victim.