Mark Stücklin
A new study estimates that just under 79,000 properties in Spain are now occupied by squatters, 10pc fewer than in 2016.
The Cerdà Institute (Institut Cerdà), a leading Spanish think-tank and policy research institute with offices in Barcelona and Madrid, has presented its latest study of the squatter problem in Spain, which reveals that there are currently 78,800 properties occupied by squatters in Spain, down from 87,600 its first report in 2016. More than 30pc of squats are located in Catalonia.
The decline coincides with a reduction in the number of squatter invasions reported to the police, which fell by 3.2pc in 2022, according to official figures cited by the Spanish daily El Pais.
Despite the decline since 2016, the Cerdà Institute warns that the squatter problem in Spain has become “chronic” as opposed to a transitory problem resulting from a special set of circumstances that afflicted Spain after its real estate crash. “Mafias and organised groups” taking advantage of Spain’s lax squatter laws are an increasing part of the problem.
It also draws attention to the growing problem of “squatter tenants” (colloquially referred to as inquiocupación), by which it means people who sign a rental contract with the intention of defaulting on their rental payments after a few months, and then enjoying a year or two of rent-free living as it takes so long to evict non-paying tenants in Spain.
There are fewer buildings taken over by squatters because landlords, both public and private, have become better at managing their property, with greater surveillance and security measures in place.
Nevertheless, between 75pc and 80pc of properties taken over by squatters belong to what Spain calls “major landowners”, by which it means any person or legal entity that owns five or more residential properties (a very low bar!). Most “major landowners” with squatted properties are financial institutions and investment funds, according to the Cerdà Institute.
Squatters also a problem for social housing providers
The study also reveals the cost of squatters to social housing providers. It describes a public perception that squatters are “jumping the queue” by squatting in social housing, whilst the law abiding, who are also desperate for a place to live, wait in line. The Catalan social housing provider Habitat3 has 2pc of the homes it manages taken over by squatters, and has to spend 30,000€ on every case, reducing the time and resources it has at its disposal to provide social housing for others.
How does 79,000 squats compare to other countries in Europe? The Cerdà Institute doesn’t say. Though I do collect data on the reported cases of squatters in Spain, I can’t find any numbers for international comparison. However, given official permissive attitude to squatters in Spain, I would hazard a guess that it’s one of the highest in Europe both in absolute and per capita / household terms, if not the highest.
