A squatter in Palma decided to install a 6,000-litre swimming pool on the terrace — and put the structure of the building at risk.
In Palma de Mallorca, a woman has been convicted not just for squatting in a flat, but for turning it into her own private spa, according to Spanish press reports. After refusing to leave when her rental contract ended last August, she stayed put — then installed a six-tonne swimming pool on the terrace, seriously compromising the structure of the building and putting her neighbours in danger.
The court has fined her €8,000 in total: €270 for illegal occupation and €7,744 for negligence related to the pool. But the property owner told Última Hora that the real cost of the damage runs into “tens of thousands of euros.”
Neighbours called the fire brigade after hearing alarming cracking sounds coming from the building. Firefighters rushed to the scene and ordered the woman to drain the pool immediately to prevent a collapse. They couldn’t, however, do anything about the occupation itself — a typical frustration for Spanish property owners facing the country’s famously squatter-friendly laws.
Owner left footing the bill — and the water
To make matters worse, the landlord says he’s still paying the flat’s utility bills, including water, while also receiving threatening phone calls at all hours. “It’s been incredibly stressful. Nobody compensates you for what you have to go through,” he said.
The court has now ordered the squatter to vacate the property before 28 October, but the owner expects she’ll simply declare herself insolvent and never pay the fine. Incredibly, he claims she even asked to be allowed to stay on “for a bit longer” after sentencing.
