Spain’s Congress of Deputies has approved a bill proposed by Junts to expedite the eviction of illegally occupied properties, reducing the process to 48 hours. The initiative, backed by the PP and PSOE (with reservations), includes reforms to civil and penal codes to tackle okupación (squatting), a chronic issue in Spain.
Key points
1. Record eviction timelines
- Introduction of an urgent precautionary measure: Courts can order evictions within 48 hours of a complaint.
Removal of delays caused by squatters citing "social vulnerability."
2. Changes to penal code
- Faster trials for property usurpation via immediate summary proceedings.
- Exclusion of Jury Courts in cases of home invasion (allanamiento de morada).
3. Civil Law Reforms
- Simplified procedures for reclaiming properties occupied without legal title.
Elimination of the "economic vulnerability review," which previously halted evictions.
PSOE supports the bill but plans amendments to "protect vulnerable groups." PP pushes its own Anti-Squatting Law (approved by the Senate), still pending in Congress.
For property owners: Reduced financial losses (current evictions take months). For real estate market: Lower squatting risks could boost investor confidence. For society: Balances property rights (Art. 33 of the Spanish Constitution) and social protections.
NGOs and left-wing parties warn: "The bill criminalizes poverty amid a housing crisis."
Junts argues: "Effective judicial protection must be swift. Squatting is a crime, not a solution."
The bill will undergo committee debates and potential amendments.