A squatter removal firm has warned homeowners in Spain that ‘anyone’ can become a squatter, no matter how trustworthy they seem at first.
MediaOkupas spoke to the Spanish Eye after a video of its henchmen removing a non-paying British tenant went viral this month.
The firm confirmed to this paper today that the incident occured in Malaga province.
‘We don’t know why he stopped paying, only he will know that,’ a spokesperson said, ‘the home was in a town in Malaga province.’
When asked how the Brit was removed, and whether he was offered cash to leave, the company insisted ‘we did not pay him a cent.’
So-called anti-okupa forces operate on the outskirts of the laws, which heavily favour tenants and squatters.
If they are seen to be harrassing squatters or using force to evict them, they can be arrested and charged with a crime of ‘coercion’.
When asked if foreign squatters, including Brits, are becoming increasingly common, they said: ‘Yes, the number of cases is increasing.
‘Nowadays anyone can squat a home if they have the nerve, such as a Belgian woman in a case I have right now now in Fuengirola.
‘They come across as polite and like they wouldn’t do this kind of thing, and then look what happens.’
The force said it is preparing a ‘what to do’ manual for those who suddenly find themselves with a squatter problem.
It comes after they boasted of removing an English squatter from a home in Malaga in less than a month.
In footage shared online by MediaOkupas, a man in a cap can be seen opening the door of the property, alongside two aggressive dogs, while a British woman is heard behind him.
In a heated exchange, the Brit demands to see the men’s badges, saying they need a warrant to enter his home and that they have no right to question him.
He claims to be a judge and a postmaster and repeatedly says ‘I understand the law’.
The Brit denies not having paid rent for months, telling the group ‘the rent is paid my friend’, despite not having any documents to prove it.
MediaOkupas said: ‘He arrives from England, without saying hello or introducing himself… He doesn’t even say “hello”… but he knows Spanish law better than many owners.
‘He stops paying rent, takes out his Rottweiler and his American Staffordshire Terrier, and talks with arrogance.
‘Because, of course… he couldn’t do that in his own country. But here in Spain, he knows he can play the system.’
In a second video, the force accused the Brit of ‘spouting nonsense’.
It added: ‘Whether he’s a judge, or the postmaster, it’s all very confusing, but he definitely knows the law by heart.
‘The only thing he’s sure of is that he’s playing by the rules, and he’s made sure to learn them very well.’
In a third video, the group shows the moment the Spanish family are handed back their keys after the Brits left the property, after a month of ‘negotiating’.
The company said in its final post: ‘After all the talk about documents, about him being a judge, about him having a lawsuit at the UN… where are those papers?
‘Oh, right, the papers don’t exist. But the story continues. After all the theatrics and a thousand excuses We recovered the property in record time
‘The owners are back in their home, where peace and hope are once again part of their daily lives.
‘The smiles on their faces are the best thanks we could receive.’
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
