Squatters: Why you need a house alarm!

Raymundo Larraín Nesbitt, May, 11. 2022

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By Raymundo Larraín Nesbitt
Lawyer - Abogado
11^th of May 2022

As we have been reporting over the last years, the squatter problem has been growing.

This used to be only a nuisance in large cities, such as Barcelona and Madrid, but with the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, and associated flight bans, they have been actively targeting properties belonging to expats which stood empty.

In light of this I thought I would share this short blog post.

Spanish police can evict squatters by force within the first 48 hours they break into a main residence, following consolidated jurisprudence. A second residence, by definition, is not a ‘main residence’, granted, but installing an alarm may also be helpful, even if acting as a deterrent.

The main problem the police have is to determine exactly when they have broken in. If in doubt, the police back out and do not act, even remanding into custody any property owner that attempts to break into their own home if the squatters are inside (sic).

Installing a house alarm solves this problem as besides alerting the owner, they are connected directly with the police, which get notified immediately of any intrusion attempt. This can constitute irrefutable poof on when the squatters broke into a property. If within the first 48 hours, the police can then remove them by force - if necessary - which avoids the owner a protracted and expensive court procedure to recover possession which could take months, or even years.

Which is why we strongly recommend you install a house alarm in Spain. It adds another layer of protection against squatters and ultimately may even act as a deterrent. What is a certainty, is that a house that does not have installed an alarm system is a prime target and may fall prey to squatters (and burglars).

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At Larrain Nesbitt Abogados we have over 19 years’ experience buying, selling, and renting properties. We are also specialized in immigration & residency visas. You can contact us by e-mail at info@larrainnesbitt.com, by telephone on (+34) 952 19 22 88, or by completing our contact form to book an appointment.

Related articles

Squatters in Spain – 8^th June 2012
Squatters overrun Spanish properties – 1^st August 2020
Squatters: Why you need a house alarm – 11^th May 2022

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