A British woman has been compelled to sell her dream Spanish holiday villa after a squatter refused to leave, costing her thousands of pounds. Joanne Venet, 61, from Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, rented out her €450,000 three-bedroom luxury villa near Benidorm to a Spanish tenant for €1,400 per month earlier this year. Within two months, the tenant stopped paying rent and utility bills, leading to the property's electricity being disconnected.
When Ms Venet tried to evict him, she discovered Spain's strict tenancy laws would have taken years and cost thousands. The tenant reportedly said, 'I can stay in here, I can do what I want, I have my rights.' She eventually paid £4,000 to a specialist eviction agency to remove him, after he agreed to a voluntary departure contract. The property was left in a state of ruin, littered with cocaine and cannabis paraphernalia.
Ms Venet, a wedding celebrant and actress, said the mental strain affected her work and life. She also noted that post-Brexit rules limiting British passport holders to 90 days in the Schengen zone made the eviction process harder. Her husband stayed at the property to prevent further squatting. The couple now plans to sell the villa, unable to cope with the stress.
