{"id":1107,"date":"2026-09-25T13:57:41","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T11:57:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/?p=1107"},"modified":"2026-09-25T14:27:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T12:27:15","slug":"okupas-w-hiszpanii-co-mowi-prawo-jak-chronic-nieruchomosc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/okupas-w-hiszpanii-co-mowi-prawo-jak-chronic-nieruchomosc\/","title":{"rendered":"Squatters in Spain: what the law really says and how to protect your property"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1107\" class=\"elementor elementor-1107\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b0374a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1b0374a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1235443 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"1235443\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"fs-crumbs\"><a href=\"\/en\/poradnik\/\">Guides<\/a> <span>\/<\/span> <a href=\"\/en\/poradnik\/#nieruchomosci-w-hiszpanii\">Property in Spain<\/a><\/nav>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c9ef78c fs-h1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c9ef78c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Squatters in Spain: what the law really says and how to protect your property<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37717f0 fs-postmeta elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"37717f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-f7c1dbe elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/2026\/09\/25\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time>25 September 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-3e5c212 elementor-inline-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-custom\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t6 min read\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ec4d14 fs-lead elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1ec4d14\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The subject of okupas comes up in almost every conversation about buying a house in Spain \u2013 usually in its headline version. I have put together the current legislation and official statistics to separate the real risk from media shorthand and show what actually protects an owner in practice.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f84b4fd e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f84b4fd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8155fa5 fs-hero-img elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8155fa5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2200\" height=\"1467\" src=\"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-peniscola.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1096\" alt=\"Pe\u00f1\u00edscola \u2013 zabudowa starego miasta nad morzem\" srcset=\"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-peniscola.jpg 2200w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-peniscola-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-peniscola-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-peniscola-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-peniscola-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-peniscola-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-peniscola-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2200px) 100vw, 2200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Photo: Mikhail Chichkin \/ Unsplash<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b70f923 fs-art-body e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"b70f923\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c44b4d fs-art elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4c44b4d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>In brief<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>According to official Interior Ministry statistics, in 2025 the police recorded 14,875 incidents in the \"allanamiento \/ usurpaci\u00f3n\" category across Spain. The country has around 26.6 million homes.<\/li>\n<li>A home you actually spend time in \u2013 including as a second home \u2013 is, as a rule, treated by prosecutors as a <em>morada<\/em>, meaning someone's dwelling. Occupying it is a more serious offence than occupying an empty property.<\/li>\n<li>No provision sets a fixed eviction deadline of \"24\/48 hours\" or \"15 days\". The circumstances decide: an immediate \"in the act\" response or court proceedings.<\/li>\n<li>Most depends on careful buying, a visible presence and prompt reporting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2>Two different offences, one colloquial word<\/h2>\n<p>\"Okupas\" is a media term, not a legal one. The Spanish Criminal Code (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.boe.es\/buscar\/act.php?id=BOE-A-1995-25444\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>C\u00f3digo Penal<\/em><\/a>) distinguishes between two situations, and almost everything depends on that distinction: the penalty, what the police can do and the route the owner will take.<\/p>\n\n<h3><em>Allanamiento de morada<\/em> \u2013 when someone enters another person's home<\/h3>\n<p>Article 202 covers situations in which someone enters another person's <em>morada<\/em> or remains there against the occupant's will. <em>Morada<\/em> is the place where someone's private life takes place \u2013 not just a registered address. The penalty is 6 months to 2 years' imprisonment. If the offender used violence or intimidation, it is 1 to 4 years plus a fine (6 to 12 months of daily-rate units).<\/p>\n\n<h3><em>Usurpaci\u00f3n<\/em> \u2013 when the occupied property is nobody's home<\/h3>\n<p>Article 245 covers the occupation of a property that is not a <em>morada<\/em>: an empty flat from a bank's portfolio, an unfinished development or commercial premises. For occupation without violence (Article 245(2)), the court may impose only a fine of 3 to 6 months of daily-rate units. This mild sanction is the source of the belief in \"impunity\" \u2013 but it applies mainly to empty properties, not to homes someone uses.<\/p>\n\n<h2>How widespread is it?<\/h2>\n<p>The Ministry of the Interior publishes its data on the <a href=\"https:\/\/estadisticasdecriminalidad.ses.mir.es\/sec\/jaxiPx\/Tabla.htm?path=\/Datos11\/l0\/&amp;file=11001.px&amp;L=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Crime Statistics Portal<\/a>, in a single combined category covering both offences. In 2025 there were 14,875 incidents known to the police \u2013 around 9% fewer than in 2024 (16,426). The highest figure in the series since 2010 was in 2021 (17,274). The data cover all police forces, including regional ones. Nearly 40% of the 2025 cases (5,913) were recorded in Catalonia.<\/p>\n<p>For scale: according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ine.es\/prensa\/censo_2021_jun.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">INE 2021 census<\/a> , Spain has around 26.6 million homes, of which around 3.8 million stand empty. Even assuming that each incident involved a different home \u2013 and the statistics also include commercial premises and land \u2013 we are talking about a fraction of a per cent of the housing stock (around 0.06%). The risk exists, but it is unevenly distributed: it is concentrated in certain regions and mainly affects properties that stand empty.<\/p>\n\n<h2>A second home: is it more at risk?<\/h2>\n<p>This is the question I hear most often from people planning to spend a few months a year in Spain. From a legal point of view, the answer is fairly reassuring. In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boe.es\/diario_boe\/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2020-11243\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instruction 1\/2020<\/a> , the Attorney General's Office stated that second homes count as a <em>morada<\/em>, provided that the owner's private life takes place in them \u2013 even periodically. Occupying them should therefore be classified as <em>allanamiento de morada<\/em>, not the milder <em>usurpaci\u00f3n<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>In practice, what matters is whether you can show that the house really is used. That is why the evidence I describe below is so important. The most frequent targets remain properties with no sign of life: repossessed by banks and funds, unfinished or uninhabited for years.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-590f0c8 fs-art-img elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"590f0c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2200\" height=\"1467\" src=\"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-granada-albaicin.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1145\" alt=\"Granada \u2013 widok na dzielnic\u0119 Albaic\u00edn\" srcset=\"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-granada-albaicin.jpg 2200w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-granada-albaicin-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-granada-albaicin-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-granada-albaicin-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-granada-albaicin-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-granada-albaicin-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-granada-albaicin-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2200px) 100vw, 2200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Photo: David Vives \/ Unsplash<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9c14115 fs-art elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9c14115\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>What has changed in the law<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>2018 \u2013 a faster civil procedure.<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boe.es\/buscar\/doc.php?id=BOE-A-2018-7833\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ley 5\/2018<\/a> introduced an expedited procedure for recovering possession (Article 250.1.4 LEC) for individuals, non-profit organisations and public bodies with social housing. The occupier has 5 days to show a legal title; if they fail to do so, the court may order the property to be handed over. Companies and banks cannot use this route.<\/li>\n<li><strong>2020 \u2013 guidelines for prosecutors and the police.<\/strong> FGE Instruction 1\/2020 set out, among other things, how to apply for an order to vacate the property (<em>desalojo<\/em>) as an interim measure at the very start of criminal proceedings. In September 2020 the Interior Ministry also issued an instruction to the police (6\/2020), confirming that they can act immediately when an offence is discovered \"in the act\".<\/li>\n<li><strong>2023 \u2013 new requirements in civil cases.<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boe.es\/buscar\/act.php?id=BOE-A-2023-12203\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ley 12\/2023<\/a> on the right to housing added to the procedure, among other things, an obligation to state whether the property is the defendant's permanent home and whether the claimant is a large-scale owner (<em>gran tenedor<\/em>). Some of the requirements for large-scale owners were struck down by the Constitutional Court (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.boe.es\/buscar\/doc.php?id=BOE-A-2025-4079\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">judgment 26\/2025<\/a>).<\/li>\n<li><strong>2025 \u2013 fast-track procedure in criminal cases.<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boe.es\/buscar\/act.php?id=BOE-A-2025-76\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ley Org\u00e1nica 1\/2025<\/a> added both offences to the list of cases that can be heard in a <em>juicio r\u00e1pido<\/em>; the change has applied since 3 April 2025. In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boe.es\/diario_boe\/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2025-17153\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Circular 1\/2025<\/a>, the Attorney General's Office clarified that the mildest form of <em>usurpaci\u00f3n<\/em> (without violence, punishable only by a fine) goes through the procedure for minor offences, whereas for <em>allanamiento de morada<\/em> the fast-track procedure comes into play when the case begins with a police report and the statutory conditions are met.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Status as of September 2026:<\/strong> in May 2026 Congress accepted for further consideration a private members' organic bill against illegal occupation (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.congreso.es\/public_oficiales\/L15\/CONG\/BOCG\/B\/BOCG-15-B-304-1.PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">no. 122\/000254<\/a>). The bill is at the amendment stage and has not come into force. In September, MPs also passed a non-binding motion (<em>moci\u00f3n<\/em>) calling on the government to make eviction possible within 24\u201348 hours. The law in force has not changed \u2013 I will return to the subject if work on the bill moves forward.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Where the \"48 hours\" and \"15 days\" come from<\/h2>\n<p>Two contradictory versions circulate online: that after 48 hours the police \"can no longer act\", or that an eviction is always over within two days or two weeks. Neither figure comes from the statute.<\/p>\n<p>What the police can do is determined by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boe.es\/buscar\/act.php?id=BOE-A-1978-31229\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Article 18(2) of the Constitution<\/a>: a home may not be entered without consent or a court order, unless there is <em>flagrante delito<\/em> \u2013 an offence in progress or just discovered. In that case officers can respond immediately. If that \"immediacy\" is missing, a court decides on vacating the property \u2013 in criminal proceedings as an interim measure, or through the civil route. The timing depends on the evidence, the type of proceedings and the workload of the particular court. That is why prompt reporting with a full set of documents makes such a difference.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Before you buy: five checkpoints<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong><em>Nota simple<\/em> from the <em>Registro de la Propiedad<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 the current owner, charges and entries.<\/li>\n<li><strong>An on-site inspection<\/strong> (in person or through someone you trust) \u2013 is the property empty, and what state are the locks and meters in?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Be careful with \"<em>vivienda ocupada<\/em>\" listings.<\/strong> The lower price reflects a dispute with the occupiers whose length cannot be predicted. This is a product for specialist investors, not a holiday home.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The community of owners and documents<\/strong> \u2013 a certificate confirming there are no arrears owed to the <em>comunidad de propietarios<\/em>, a conversation with the property manager about security in the building and, where the region requires it, a <em>c\u00e9dula de habitabilidad<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A clause in the contract<\/strong> \u2013 as early as the reservation agreement and the <em>contrato de arras<\/em> , it is worth agreeing that the property will be handed over free of occupants (<em>libre de ocupantes<\/em>), with the keys handed over at the signing of the deed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a887522 fs-art-img elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a887522\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2200\" height=\"1472\" src=\"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-klucze-w-drzwiach.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1146\" alt=\"Klucze w zamku drzwi\" srcset=\"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-klucze-w-drzwiach.jpg 2200w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-klucze-w-drzwiach-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-klucze-w-drzwiach-1024x685.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-klucze-w-drzwiach-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-klucze-w-drzwiach-1536x1028.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-okupas-klucze-w-drzwiach-2048x1370.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2200px) 100vw, 2200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Photo: Jaye Haych \/ Unsplash<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bf7561f fs-art elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bf7561f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>How to reduce the risk day to day<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>A monitored alarm<\/strong> \u2013 lets you call the police the moment someone enters, i.e. in a situation of <em>flagrante delito<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A regular presence<\/strong> \u2013 yours, your family's, a maintenance company's or a trusted neighbour's, who will let you know about any worrying signs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>No signs of an empty property<\/strong> \u2013 an emptied letterbox, a well-kept terrace, lighting on a timer.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Proof that it is your <em>morada<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 utility bills in your name, dated photos of the interior, personal belongings, proof of stays. Registration on the local census (<em>empadronamiento<\/em>) is not a requirement here.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Insurance with legal protection<\/strong> (<em>defensa jur\u00eddica<\/em>) that covers occupation \u2013 it is worth checking the limits and exclusions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2>Companies offering \"desokupaci\u00f3n\" \u2013 what you should know<\/h2>\n<p>In Spain there are private companies advertising eviction services, known as <em>desokupaci\u00f3n<\/em>. Most often they offer negotiation and mediation with the people occupying the property, protection and securing of the property (e.g. surveillance or securing the doors and windows of an empty property) and cooperation with lawyers who handle the case in court.<\/p>\n<p>It is worth drawing a clear line between the roles. A private company is not the police or a judicial authority and has no independent right to forcibly remove anyone from a property. The formal vacating of a property (<em>desalojo<\/em>) or eviction (<em>lanzamiento<\/em>) take place within the relevant proceedings \u2013 criminal or civil \u2013 and the eviction is carried out under the direction of the court, with police involvement if necessary (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.boe.es\/buscar\/act.php?id=BOE-A-2000-323\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ley de Enjuiciamiento Civil, Article 703<\/a>). Property security services, in turn, may only be provided by licensed security companies entered in the register and employing authorised staff (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.boe.es\/buscar\/act.php?id=BOE-A-2014-3649\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ley 5\/2014 de Seguridad Privada<\/a>, Articles 5 and 18).<\/p>\n<p>The market for these services is controversial in Spain, and the methods of individual companies vary greatly. In February 2025 a congressional committee rejected a motion to outlaw them, and the courts have already handed down judgments for overstepping the law. Threats, violence, harassment, unlawfully cutting off utilities or other forms of pressure may constitute an offence \u2013 including <em>coacciones<\/em> (Article 172 of the C\u00f3digo Penal) or taking the law into one's own hands with violence or intimidation (Article 455 of the C\u00f3digo Penal). Liability may extend not only to those carrying out such actions but also to whoever commissions them.<\/p>\n<p>If you are considering using such a company, first consult a Spanish lawyer (<em>abogado<\/em>): check that the company has the required licences, ask for a detailed written scope of services and make sure that every step stays within the law. The main route remains a report to the police and proceedings handled by a lawyer.<\/p>\n\n<h2>If your property is occupied<\/h2>\n<p>There is no single sequence of steps that fits every situation. In practice it is worth pursuing several routes in parallel \u2013 and the same documents will be useful on each of them.<\/p>\n<h3>Three routes you can pursue at the same time<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Police<\/strong> \u2013 report it on 112, 091 (Polic\u00eda Nacional) or 062 (Guardia Civil); in Catalonia and the Basque Country there are also regional police forces (Mossos d\u2019Esquadra, Ertzaintza). A prompt report helps to document the moment and circumstances of the occupation. The specific case will determine whether the situation counts as <em>flagrante delito<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A Spanish lawyer (<em>abogado<\/em>)<\/strong> \u2013 will assess the situation, help you file a criminal complaint (<em>denuncia<\/em>) and choose the legal route: criminal (with an application for <em>desalojo<\/em> as an interim measure) or civil under Article 250.1.4 LEC.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A desokupaci\u00f3n company \u2013 if you want to consider one<\/strong> \u2013 as an additional service, e.g. mediation or securing the property, after checking its licences and methods and after consulting your abogado. Such a company is no substitute for legal proceedings or police action.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>What to prepare<\/h3>\n<p>The title deed, utility bills, dated photos, statements from neighbours and proof of your last stay. These documents allow you to show that the property is yours and that you use it.<\/p>\n<h3>What not to do<\/h3>\n<p>Do not take matters into your own hands. Changing the locks yourself, cutting off utilities, making threats or forcibly removing people may be treated as an offence, e.g. <em>coacciones<\/em> (Article 172 of the C\u00f3digo Penal) \u2013 regardless of whether you do it yourself or commission someone else to do it.<\/p>\n<p>If you are planning to buy in Spain and want to go through these steps calmly, with someone who knows them from the inside \u2013 I would be glad to talk.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe0fdb6 fs-art elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fe0fdb6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fs-src-h\">Sources and updates<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"fs-sources-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boe.es\/buscar\/act.php?id=BOE-A-1995-25444\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">C\u00f3digo Penal, consolidated text \u2013 Articles 172, 202, 245 (BOE)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boe.es\/buscar\/act.php?id=BOE-A-2025-76\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ley Org\u00e1nica 1\/2025 \u2013 juicio r\u00e1pido procedure, in force since 3.04.2025 (BOE)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boe.es\/diario_boe\/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2025-17153\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Circular 1\/2025 Fiscal\u00eda General del Estado (BOE, 25.08.2025)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boe.es\/diario_boe\/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2020-11243\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instrucci\u00f3n 1\/2020 Fiscal\u00eda General del Estado (BOE, 25.09.2020)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boe.es\/buscar\/act.php?id=BOE-A-2000-323\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ley de Enjuiciamiento Civil \u2013 Article 703, enforcement of eviction (BOE)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boe.es\/buscar\/act.php?id=BOE-A-2014-3649\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ley 5\/2014 de Seguridad Privada (BOE)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.boe.es\/buscar\/doc.php?id=BOE-A-2018-7833\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ley 5\/2018 \u2013 expedited civil procedure (BOE)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/estadisticasdecriminalidad.ses.mir.es\/sec\/jaxiPx\/Tabla.htm?path=\/Datos11\/l0\/&amp;file=11001.px&amp;L=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ministerio del Interior \u2013 Portal Estad\u00edstico de Criminalidad, allanamiento\/usurpaci\u00f3n 2010\u20132025<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ine.es\/prensa\/censo_2021_jun.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">INE \u2013 Censos de Poblaci\u00f3n y Viviendas 2021<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.congreso.es\/public_oficiales\/L15\/CONG\/BOCG\/B\/BOCG-15-B-304-1.PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Congreso de los Diputados \u2013 bill 122\/000254 (BOCG)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"fs-verified\">Information verified: 25 September 2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"fs-note\">This article is for information only and is not a substitute for individual legal advice. For your specific case, consult a Spanish lawyer (<em>abogado<\/em>).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1029a6a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1029a6a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b89470b fs-h2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b89470b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Planning to buy property in Spain?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-789b1b1 fs-text elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"789b1b1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align:center\">Tell me about your plans \u2013 I will be happy to help you find the right direction.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1625ae0 elementor-align-center fs-btn elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"1625ae0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"\/en\/contact-us\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Let's talk<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-291b2ca e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"291b2ca\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12064c5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"12064c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"fs-related\"><p class=\"fs-overline\">Guides<\/p><ul class=\"fs-region-list\"><li><a href=\"\/en\/poradnik\/#nieruchomosci-w-hiszpanii\"><span class=\"fs-rl-name\">More: Property in Spain<\/span><span class=\"fs-rl-arrow\">\u2192<\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/poradnik\/\"><span class=\"fs-rl-name\">All Guide articles<\/span><span class=\"fs-rl-arrow\">\u2192<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Allanamiento or usurpaci\u00f3n, official Interior Ministry data and the \"48-hour\" myth. A calm look at how to protect a home in Spain before and after you buy.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1096,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1107","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nieruchomosci-w-hiszpanii"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1107","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1107"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1107\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1188,"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1107\/revisions\/1188"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1096"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1107"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1107"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1107"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}