The number of cases against squatters has multiplied by 10 since 2018
The crimes of usurpation and trespassing of properties, more commonly known as squatting, committed by foreigners in Spain have risen alarmingly since 2018 reaching figures that exceeded 4,000 cases in 2023.
In 2018 foreigners only accounted for 29% of these types of crimes, but that shot up to 52% in 2023. Meanwhile, the proposed Law to help landlords and apply more forceful measures against this phenomenon is still in the approval process.
Illegal occupation of properties by foreigners multiplied by ten
Since 2020, half of the people arrested or investigated for home occupation crimes have been foreigners. In fact, statistics show that in 2022, of the more than 9,000 people detained or investigated for this type of crime, around 4,900 were of foreign origin.
Many have blamed this phenomenon on the Pedro Sánchez Government, as he became Prime Minister in 2018 when the number of crimes of usurpation and trespassing of properties committed by foreigners was 447 (compared to 4,903 cases in 2023).
Major cities are suffering from the absence of effective measures
In the index of crimes due to usurpation in each of the Autonomous Communities, Catalonia is placed at the top of the list. In the Catalan region, some 6,659 cases were reported last year, of which 3,912 were committed by foreigners.
Therefore, a percentage of 59% says a lot about the immigration problem in the region.
If we go to the national level, the Community of Madrid reports around 943 cases, Andalusia 601 and the Valencian Community about 334. On the other hand, regions such as Rioja, Navarra, Cantabria and Melilla experience a lower number of crimes of this nature, adding between the four about 44 cases in total.
This worrying data on the increase of squatters, along with the concerns of landlords about long-term lets, and the increase in holiday home licenses, is what is causing the housing shortage and rents to reach levels never seen before.
Added to this, as of today there is no approved Organic Law (it is still under discussion by Congress) to evict squatters from homes in 24 hours. It does, however, propose 3 years in prison as a sanction for anyone found guilty of usurpation or illegal occupation of a property.