(Atarfe, Granada) When you hear about squatters, you would normally think of hippies/anarchists moving into abandoned or condemned properties, but this is not the case in Atarfe, just to the north east of the city of Granada.

Here, a group of homeless people decided to occupy luxury dwellings that have never been occupied, because the building developer was unable to sell them.

The houses in question are not completely finished, but compared with sleeping on the streets or on a friends sofa, because your house has been repossessed, the hitherto empty dwellings were heaven sent… at least from their point of view.

The building developer, who is not a happy bunny, denounced the situation to the Guardia Civil, who went to the properties and identified the twelve individuals.

Apparently, the ‘invasion’ began when a rumour began circulating in the poorer area of Atarfe, saying that it was easy to gain access to the luxury dwellings near Plaza de Toros, because, ‘the owner was a bloke in Barcelona who hadn’t been anywhere near the place in a long time.’ Well, before you could say “finders, keepers, losers weepers,” the luxury housing was no longer empty…

Trouble is, it’s not only a case of squatters moving in, but also of looters ransacking some of the flats. Water heaters, air-con… even the taps from the bathrooms, have all been removed. The show apartment, which was completely furnished is now completely empty… oh, and they also made off with the pump and filter system from the community swimming pool. The only thing that the thieves left intact were the front doors, so as not to raise suspicion that something was amiss inside. So, in one sense, it’s thanks to the squatters that they have all been done over.

As for the developers, they said that at one point they had managed to sell eleven of the 23 properties, but all the buyers had backed out, being unable to sustain mortgage payments.
Meanwhile, the Guardia Civil stake out the housing project to stop the flood of ‘aspirants,’ whilst those that are already installed have fixed up chains and padlocks to ‘mark their territory,’ and thus warn off others.

D-day + 1 saw that several squatters had given interviews to the local press, expressing their willingness to pay rent – albeit it symbolic, perhaps – in exchange for being allowed to remain in their new ‘homes.’

One of the occupants is a 38-year-old who has three children and a wife who is doing time in prison. The man, whose complexion is best described as swarthy, has been unemployed for the last eight years but receives a small disability pension.

Another man lived in a shack, together with his five unemployed offspring and their own eleven children – a shack full of fun, no doubt, so when the rumour started to buzz, they all hoofed it (ran) over to the luxury estate.

Another case is a couple in their 30’s with two daughters. He was an ambulance driver, but found himself redundant four years ago. His wife has been out of work for the last five years. They had taken out a mortgage on a 2-bedroom flat, before the crisis hit, but found themselves unable to pay the mortgage repayments and were evicted.

There are people from all walks of life who now find themselves as illegal residents in heaven.

(News: Atarfe, Granada, Andalucia)