A new conflict has erupted in Girona between property owners and illegal occupants. After a long period of waiting, the owners decided to take advantage of the absence of outsiders and entered their own house. However, their attempt to reclaim the property ended unexpectedly: municipal police officers insisted that they leave, citing a video provided by the occupants.
In the footage presented by the squatters, they were shown sleeping and cooking in the disputed house. They claimed this proved they had been living there continuously for more than two days. The police accepted this argument and demanded that the owners vacate the property, despite their objections.
Legal experts note that this interpretation is not directly supported by current legislation. In particular, the criminal and civil codes of Catalonia do not contain any rule establishing a 48-hour period after which occupants receive a special status. Nevertheless, in practice, this myth continues to influence law enforcement decisions.
Experts highlight that such cases are becoming increasingly common. Owners are forced to wait months, sometimes even years, to reclaim their apartments. The average duration of court proceedings for such cases in Spain exceeds a year and a half. This creates serious challenges for private individuals, who make up the majority of landlords in the country.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that many illegal occupants cite social vulnerability and the presence of minors, making eviction procedures more difficult. Often, such claims are not supported by documents, but even so, they are enough to delay enforcement measures. As a result, tensions are rising in the rental market, and property owners are losing confidence in the protection of their rights.
The legal community insists that urgent legislative changes are needed. Proposals include speeding up eviction procedures, revising police protocols, and creating an effective social support system to avoid shifting the burden onto private individuals. Otherwise, experts warn, the problem will only worsen, and the housing market will face new challenges.
The case in Girona is yet another example of how unclear laws and the lack of unified standards lead to conflicts between property owners and tenants. The issue requires a comprehensive solution at the national level to balance the interests of all parties and prevent further escalation.
