Vélez de Benaudalla has a squatter problem that has been going on for a while and is causing quite a bit of consternation amongst its inhabitants.
The Mayor, Francisco Gutiérrez Bautita, confirms that at least four houses have been taken over by family clans that literally have the 2,870 inhabitants seriously worried.
For this reason he requests that all absentee homeowners in the village check that their property has not been taken over and if so denounce it before the Guardia Civil immediately.
He also recommends that if the house is not inhabitable, for the owners to brick up doors and windows. For houses that are inhabitable, the owners should acquire security alarms.
I spoke to one young woman, whose identity we won’t mention, and she told me how these same people that have taken over houses and refused to leave them, also come knocking on people’s door asking for food and that many people out of fear won’t even answer the door.
(News: Vélez de Benaudalla, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)
An alarm in this case is probably of limited use as they are already in. Unless you can show criminal damage, breaking and entering or similar the police are not interested. The courts are too slow so the only way seems to get back in when they are out and prevent reentry.
Invest in an Alarm foolproof.
Patrick: The law used to be completely against tenants and in favour of landlords but it has swung full pendalum. If the squatters have a kid, it’s almost impossible to get them out.
Do squatters have rights . Once in an empty or hardly lived in property.
If they tap I to the electric and water. That’s theft isn’t it. ?? I understand that unless you or a policeman actually see them breaking in. Little can be done. But a request to leave a private property and their refusal and any damages or items taken or damaged. They should be held accountable. Their is or was a company that used security chaps to move them out. Difficult grounds. The knocking on doors is just a form of bullying. They really are twats.