Early yesterday morning in Almuñécar the Guardia Civil moved in to inform squatters that they are being evicted from luxury housing complex within Citasol (Taramay).
The complex, which was completed in 2010, is called, Urbanización Almuñécar Hills, and after the Almuñécar/La Herradura developer came into difficulties, the banks took the property. The complex consists of over 30 dwellings many with pools.
This was just another development that cropped up during the building bubble and fell foul of the economic crisis of 2008 when the housing market collapsed.
The eviction has been going through the courts for some time but finally came through so the Guardia Civil, Policía Local and court officials began carrying out the convictions, which will continue today, the 9th with another ten properties. The eviction of all the dwelling should conclude by Friday.
Some of these dwellings (chalets, etc), which were never put on the market, have been illegally occupied for nearly a decade. Yesterday’s police action was to notify the people in these houses that they are being evicted so that they had a chance to move their things out.
(News/Noticias: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia – Photo: Marilo)
2014 being visitors to the property dept. of Bilbao, we were appalled to see a large housing estate where most flats stood empty. We were informed that after the property crash (ca 2008?), banks and speculators had bought up vast numbers of properties. The latter, in particular, had no interest in selling or renting out. They were waiting for the time when the market values had recovered.
Forward to 2024 and many communities, my own included, still struggle with these speculators, who also impoverish the communidades by not paying the monthly community fees, instead let it be resolved only when the property is sold.
The more we focus on the end of the chain most vulnerable, the squatters, the more naive we get.
Although not mentioned in the article, I believe it was bought from the bank by a Madrid-based company. It’s not clear.
Squatters have a lot of rights; the owner has to pay the bills you mention, in this case, the bank.
I’m a bit naive on these matters. If the Banks own these properties through default or bankruptcy. Then do these illegal persons not pay any rental. How do they get their services. Electric. Water etc ? Or should we all start squatting and stick two fingers up at everyone else.