Proposal to evict illegal squatters from properties faster

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would allow a judge to order the eviction of occupants without title within a maximum of 48 hours, when police reports show the occupation disturbs neighbors or serves to commit other crimes. No bond would be required.
2. The eviction would have to be reported immediately to social services and the Public Prosecutor to prevent vulnerable people, especially minors or people with disabilities or dependency needs, from being left without support.
3. Municipalities would gain a new duty over public safety and neighborhood coexistence in cases of conflictive or criminal illegal occupation. A city council could require the owner to evict and, if the owner does not act within 15 days, take over the eviction, which would be handled as urgent.
4. If the evicted property belongs to a large landlord, the administration could temporarily expropriate it for 5 to 10 years to use it as social housing. The owner would later pay all costs and improvements made by the administration; if not paid, the expropriation continues until the debt is covered.
5. If approved, the law would take effect the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado).

Who it affects

• Owners of squatted properties, especially those with fewer resources: They could recover their homes faster through the 48-hour precautionary eviction.
• Occupants without title to a property: They could be evicted within 48 hours if they cannot show a legal title justifying their stay.
• Vulnerable evicted people, such as minors or people with disabilities or dependency needs: Social services and the Public Prosecutor must be notified to prevent them from being left without support.
• Municipalities: They could intervene in conflictive or criminal occupations and take over evictions if owners do not act within 15 days.
• Large landlords: They could face temporary expropriation of evicted properties, for 5 to 10 years, for social housing.

Words worth knowing

Medida cautelar (precautionary measure)

A temporary court decision to protect a right while the trial is ongoing, before the final ruling.

Delito de usurpación (usurpation offense)

Occupying someone else's property against the owner's will, under Article 245 of the Spanish Criminal Code.

Caución (bond)

A guarantee or money deposit sometimes required before a court adopts a measure.

Gran tenedor (large landlord)

An owner who holds many properties, unlike a private individual with one or a few.

Expropiación temporal (temporary expropriation)

The administration uses a property for a limited time; the owner gets it back later, paying costs and improvements.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries