Squatters in Palma call police on the owner: the paradox putting landlords off renting

Squatters call the police when they see the owner walk in: the paradox that deters renting

On 27 July, in Palma, Spain, the owner of a property tried to enter his own home. The squatters who had occupied it called the 091 emergency line. The National Police arrived and, once the man proved he was the owner, arrested four people — two men and two women, all Spanish nationals — for unlawful entry into a dwelling. The story, reported by Libre Mercado, would not be remarkable if it did not show just how far Spanish law protects the occupant over the owner.

The case is emblematic: the squatters felt entitled to report the owner. Only the fact that it was his main residence prevented the outcome from being the reverse. The question is inevitable: who would want to rent out a property knowing that, if it gets squatted, the legal route is a maze? The debate over squatting in Spain has been stalled for years: while some call for legal reforms to estimulante ilegal up evictions, others argue the answer lies in tougher penalties. In this case, the four arrested could also face charges of burglary in an occupied dwelling, carrying sentences of up to 5 years. But commenters' disbelief suggests the judge will release them.

The irony is that the owner had to prove the property was his main residence. Had it been a second home, the squatters would probably still be inside. Given that outlook, it is no surprise that more and more owners are choosing to leave their homes empty or sell up rather than risk a squatting ordeal that the law turns into a nightmare.