While many Spanish cities wrestle with rising squatting problems and lengthy legal tangles, the town of Alguazas, nestled in the Vega Media del Segura region of Murcia, has found a fast and shockingly simple solution: brick up the doors.
With a population of just 10,000, Alguazas may not seem like a game-changer, but in recent years it has reclaimed 94 homes and two buildings from illegal occupation—without a single courtroom drama. Their method? Wait until the squatters leave the property temporarily, then step in, cut off the utilities, remove the door, and build a brick wall in its place. Problem contained.
It’s not exactly high-tech, but Spanish press reports say it’s working in Alguazas, Murcia.
Local authorities collaborate with property owners, especially in cases where the occupancy is tied to anti-social behaviour or even criminal activity—such as drug dens or marijuana plantations. In those situations, enhanced police vigilance is often required before action can be taken. But once the coast is clear, the wall goes up, and the squatters are out of luck.
The legal workaround
Crucially, the tactic avoids the need for legal expulsions or emergency eviction proceedings—facilitating a cleaner, quicker, and arguably more effective response. Since the home is returned to a secure but uninhabitable state, neighbours avoid further distress, and public safety is restored.
Of course, the strategy hinges on one key factor: the squatters must not be in the building at the time. Any attempt to remove them while inside would veer into legal hot water.
Still, the brick-and-mortar blockade has helped de-escalate tensions across affected areas and altered public perception. In Alguazas, the quick response has become a deterrent in itself—news of the town’s zero-tolerance approach has spread across Murcia and beyond, making it a thorny prospect for any prospective okupas.
Communities fighting back — legally
Homeowners and communities in other regions may be wondering if they too can take action outside the courtroom. The answer lies in Article 7.2 of Spain’s Ley de Propiedad Horizontal (Horizontal Property Law), which allows communities to file complaints about nuisance activities — including those linked to squatters.
Legal experts such as Del Coso Abogados stress two essential conditions for this to be effective:
- The presence of disturbing or dangerous activity, such as loud noise, crowds, drug use, bad odours, or a steady stream of unknown visitors.
- Negligence by the legal property owner, who turns a blind eye to what’s going on in their property and makes no effort to reclaim it or curb harmful behaviour.
In these cases, building communities play a critical role. To pursue legal action effectively, residents should begin by collecting evidence: written complaints, police reports, audio and video recordings, and minutes from community meetings that document the disruption.
Will other towns follow Alguazas’ lead?
While it may sound like something out of a vigilante playbook, the Alguazas example underscores the growing desperation among local communities facing persistent illegal occupation. So far, it seems to be working—and other municipalities are taking note.
Whether the wider adoption of this approach becomes part of a national trend, or ends up under legal scrutiny, remains to be seen. But for now, in a quiet Murcian town where 94 homes have been reclaimed, a few bricks seem to have gone a long way.
