Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
More than 20,000 properties in Spain that are currently occupied squatters have been listed for sale.
New research reveals that the figure represents 2,6% of all housing.
Data reveals the extent of this once rare phenomenon. нормаионне оормит оормит okupada Andalucia is the region most affected by this trend.
The report by property portal idealista, It is a unique study. There aren’t enough data to follow trends over time.
READ MORE Struggling families are being forced to ‘audition in elitist rental castings’ thanks to sky high demand in Spain’s housing market
It is a stark picture of the situation in a few major cities.
Barcelona has 6,778 squatted houses for sale, which is the most in the world.
Madrid (1 389), Murcia (1.236), Alicante (1 160), Malaga (1 130) and Girona (1.110) are all close behind. The only provinces that have more than 1,000 homes affected are these two.
READ MORE Outrage in Tenerife after squatters seize house of 87-year-old woman while she was in hospital
The data suggests that, while the larger and most populous cities are the ones with the most squatted homes for sale in general, they may not be the most affected in proportion.
With 8.8%, the Catalan City of Girona has the most occupied properties available on the market.
It is followed by Murcia (5.5%), Seville (4.7%), Almería (3.9%), and Malaga (3.8%).
READ MORE Squatters get a blow in Barcelona as a court rules that cutting off power and water is not deemed treason.
Barcelona and Santa Cruz de Tenerife each have 3.5% while Lleida, Valencia and both record 3.4%.
Spain’s larger cities mostly sit below the national average: in Madrid, squatted homes represent 2.3% of all listings, in Alicante 2.1%, San Sebastián 1.3%, and in Bilbao just 1%.
For prospective buyers, the trend represents both a challenge and potential opportunity, with squatted properties typically selling at significant discounts – but carrying additional legal complications and risks.
READ MORE: Exclusive: Brit’s retirement to Spain is ruined after BRITISH squatters seize €400k Costa del Sol home
Legal experts urge extreme caution before purchasing these properties. The eviction procedures in Spain are complex and lengthy, taking up to years through the court system.
Francisco Iñareta, idealista spokesperson, said: “The data reveals the special relevance this phenomenon has for both the market itself and property owners’ perception.”
He continued: “All attempts to minimize this reality and sometimes use unrealistic comparisons not only fail but reinforce the property owners’ feeling of vulnerability. This encourages more homes to disappear off the rental market.”
The study conducted by idealista/data, using text processing algorithm to identify properties that meet occupation criteria, represents the initial attempt to quantify this issue growing in Spain’s housing sector.
