New financial support for property owners
The municipality of Torrelodones, located in the Community of Madrid, has announced a special financial assistance program for citizens facing the problem of illegal occupation of their property. Under this initiative, apartment owners in such situations are eligible for an annual payment of €300. The program is designed for three years, totaling €900 per owner.
City officials emphasize that these payments do not replace but complement existing measures implemented by other governmental bodies. Applications will be processed through local social support services, where each case will be reviewed individually.
Eligibility criteria and anti-fraud measures
The assistance is available to individuals who own property in Torrelodones and have experienced non-payment of rent by tenants. To apply, owners must provide proof of initiating legal proceedings to reclaim their property, specifically documents showing that an eviction claim has been filed with the appropriate court. There is no deadline to apply—owners may submit documents as soon as the issue arises.
Among the mandatory requirements are registration of residence in Torrelodones and actual residence in the city. Additionally, the property eligible for support must be located within the municipality. To prevent possible abuses, city authorities have already implemented additional measures to detect fraudulent registrations.
Security and cooperation with law enforcement
Authorities in Torrelodones note that the issue of illegal occupancy affects not only their city, but many other towns across Spain. That’s why particular attention is being paid to security concerns. In the near future, 20 new Guardia Civil officers will begin duty in the municipality, enabling a quicker response to incidents related to unlawful home entry.
In addition, a dedicated hotline, “112 ocupación,” is available in the region for emergency responses to cases of illegal occupancy. The service offers advice and support to both individuals and businesses dealing with such situations.
Response and outlook
Representatives from other municipalities also participated in the discussion of new measures, notably the Mayor of Badalona (Badalona), who is known for his proactive stance on the issue of illegal occupation. According to him, such initiatives are especially important for owners who rent out properties to supplement their family income or pension. He also pointed out that the problem is gaining increasing scale across the country.
The authorities of Torrelodones expect that a comprehensive approach—combining financial support, tighter controls, and cooperation with law enforcement—will help better protect the interests of property owners and reduce the number of illegal occupations in the municipality.
