It’s not every day that a story I cover makes my blood boil.
But the injustice suffered by the now-late Kenneth Jobe is simply unbearable – my heart breaks for him and his family.
The octogenarian worked his whole life to buy his three-bedroom home in Mijas on the Costa del Sol, only for shameless squatters to take it over for more than FIVE years, ridding him of his chance to enjoy it during his golden years.
According to Kenneth’s grieving family, they owe more than €50,000 in rent, but will never face justice for what they have done.
The current legislation is simply not tought enough to adequately protect homeowners from the scourge of squatting in Spain.
Earlier this year, the PSOE-led government introduced new legislation which says squatters who break into a property can be kicked out within 15 days via an express court order.
However, the law does not extend to tenants who stop paying their rent and refuse to leave.
It means squatters who break into homes can simply get around the rule by claiming they have a rental contract, before employing a slew of other tricks, including being declared ‘vulnerable’ by the town hall, giving them extra protection.
Some of the stories I’ve heard really take the biscuit.
An Irish couple I know personally have been unable to kick a squatter out of their Estepona villa for years because he was declared vulnerable due to his alcoholism.
During their ordeal, the wife has developed cancer – twice – which they partly attribute to the stress of trying to go through the Spanish legal system.
It is one of the biggest scandals in Spain and needs to be properly dealt with.
Anyone who cannot pay rent must simply be evicted, with force if necessary – while of course giving extra time for those in GENUINELY vulnerable situations.
What no politicians appear to realise is that solving the squatter crisis would see so many homes free up for long term rentals.
Currently, scores of landlords are terrified of renting long term over fears their property will be squatted and they will face a yearslong legal battle while footing the occupiers’ bills.
Renting to tourists in the short-term is far more attractive, not only because they can make more money, but they are rest assured that their guests will be flying home after a few days.
This only amplifies the growth of Airbnb-style properties, which contributes to the lack of housing for local families and young people.
It’s time Spain got serious about its squatter problem and sorted it out once and for all.
Read more Costa del Sol news at the Spanish Eye.
