Squatting has long been an issue in Spain, often linked to high homelessness rates. However, a darker trend has emerged where squatters demand 'ransoms' to vacate properties, leading to the growth of private eviction companies that sometimes use threats to remove them.
Michael Regan, a property owner in the Catalan town of Sitges, discovered squatters in his holiday home while he was in London. Spanish police referred the case to a judge, a standard procedure that can take up to two years. Regan opted to hire FueraOkupas, a company specialising in negotiating with squatters, for a fee of 3,500 euros (£3,000).
FueraOkupas director Jorge Fe says his team includes boxers and martial arts experts. After several visits, the squatters agreed to leave in exchange for money. Fe described dealing with such individuals as 'a children's game' for his staff.
Property lawyer Santi Ventalló notes that extortion occurs in 1-2% of cases but expects it to rise due to slow court processes. He admitted he would pay squatters to leave if faced with the same situation, calling it 'a very easy way to make money.'
A former criminal, speaking anonymously as Javier, claims he makes 10,000-12,000 euros per property by breaking into expensive flats owned by banks and demanding payment to leave. He says he has targeted around 50 properties in the past year, calling it easier than robbing a bank.
With an estimated 10,000 empty homes in Barcelona alone, the issue is exacerbated by post-2008 property market conditions. The BBC was unable to verify Javier's claims, as banks are unlikely to admit paying off criminals.
