Legal expert: Squatters don’t want you to know three things about them – CSN News

A SPANISH legal expert has warned of three crucial tips that ‘squatters don’t want you to know’ amid growing concerns over Spain’s chronic property problem.

The popular TikTok channel for legal advice @dudas_juridicasThe expert explained his essential strategies to property owners in a video that has been viewed over 865,000 times.

Legal advisor: “The key to preventing squatters is to stop them from changing locks.” “Once that happens, there’s no turning back – the property is effectively occupied.”

The second tip is to focus on the documentation. 

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The expert recommended that you always keep a copy of the deeds in your phone. He warned that leaving these documents on the property would allow squatters or unauthorized residents to create fake rental contracts and register themselves as residents.

In cases where prevention has failed, the advisor recommends that civil proceedings be pursued rather than criminal ones. 

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“Civil cases do not require identifying squatters in a specific way, which makes the process faster and simpler,” he said.

This warning comes at a time when Spain is still grappling with an increase in squatting, fueled by rising property prices and inadequate legal protections that many homeowners believe to be lacking.

Some property owners have shared additional preventive measures. 

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“I never keep my property documents in the house – they stay at my mother’s,” commented one user.

Spain’s squatting issue is of particular concern to foreign property owners who leave their homes vacant for long periods. This makes them vulnerable targets.

It is a hotly debated issue that the police respond to incidents of squatting. Property owners are frustrated by the lack of immediate action they receive when occupations occur.