Spain: Landlords can cut power to squatters

Spain: Landlords can cut power to squatters

A landmark ruling in Spain has handed landlords a powerful new tool in their battle against squatters – the legal right to pull the plug on electricity, water and gas in occupied homes without facing criminal charges. In a unanimous decision on March 7, judges from the criminal chambers of the Barcelona Provincial Court ruled that cutting off basic services in squatted properties does not amount… Source

The Institute of Economic Studies (IEE) considers that no "substantial efforts" are being made to protect private property and combat illegal housing occupation, a phenomenon that they accuse the government of "tolerance." The CEOE's study center published a report on Monday calling the situation "concerning" and calling for measures to speed up evictions, as well as exempting owners from paying taxes for occupied housing and allowing them to cu…

The Institute for Economic Studies (IEE) has advocated increasing penalties for occupying housing, as well as allowing landlords to cut off supplies to illegally occupied housing without this being considered a crime of coercion, as recognized by the most recent case law. Read more]] >