One of the biggest concerns for many homeowners is the issue of home squatting. If this situation occurs, the National Police explains that the supply of water, electricity or gas cannot be cut off because these behaviors could “constitute a crime”.
To prevent a house from being squatted, agents recommend exchanging means of contact with neighbors to be able to be located and warned in the event of an attempt to commit this crime, not to publish images of holiday projects or to install security mechanisms such as, for example, that the door cylinder is “pre-cut”.
However, whether measures have been taken or not, there remain case of squats in our country. This is when a legal procedure begins which can last several months until the squatters are evicted.
As Zarzo Fincas explains, “if you can prove that squatters occupied your property in the last 48 hoursthe police can carry out the eviction without the need for a court order“. Otherwise, they emphasize that the legal process begins where legal action can be taken. civil or criminal eviction claim for the offense of usurpation of real estate.
The time needed to evict a squatter in Catalonia
However, the deadlines for resolution and definitive removal of squatters from housing can vary.
According to data from the General Council of the Judiciary, in 2023 in Catalonia, verbal possession procedures for illegal occupation of housing have had an impact average duration of 11.8 months. In 2018, it was 4.9 months.
This data is also collected by the real estate portal Idealista, which adds to these verbal procedures appeals of convictions in provincial courts in civil proceedings. In this case, the CGPJ places these to Catalonia in 11.9 months on average.
Following this calculation, in Catalonia the total duration would increase to 23.7 months average.
