I’m completely exhausted! After so many years in Spain, I’ve encountered the infamous okupa problem for the first time, and it happened in my own rented apartment. I went back to my home country for two weeks to visit family, and when I returned, I found the locks had been changed and a strange family was living inside! I was completely stunned. My first instinct was to call the police, but when they arrived, they just asked a few questions and said it was a civil dispute. They couldn’t evict them directly and advised me to contact the landlord first.
The problem is, my landlord is Italian, and we usually only communicate via email. We haven’t seen much of each other since signing the contract. I sent countless emails and made numerous calls, but they all went unanswered. I was on the verge of a breakdown during those days, unable to get into my own home with all my belongings trapped inside. I even started to suspect the landlord might have intentionally rented the apartment to someone else, but then I remembered my contract is still valid, so that seemed too outrageous to be true.
Ultimately, my neighbor was a huge help. I explained the situation to the elderly lady next door, and she was very kind, telling me that the landlord had previously used a local real estate agency to manage the property for a while. Following this lead, I visited several agencies and finally, at a small one, I managed to find the landlord’s contact information in Italy and a relative’s phone number. The whole process was more dramatic than a TV show; I felt like I was becoming a private detective.
However, the worst was yet to come. After I contacted the landlord and explained the situation, his attitude was extremely negative. He said he’s far away in Italy and doesn’t want to get involved in Spain’s complicated legal procedures, viewing the process of dealing with squatters as both expensive and time-consuming. He even suggested that I should just give up the apartment, offering to refund my deposit and remaining rent. I was furious! All my belongings are still in there! How could I possibly just give it all up?
I’ve now laid out a few potential options for dealing with the Okupa situation, but I’m truly at a loss as to which one to choose. I’m hoping someone with experience can offer some advice:
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|
| A. Keep trying to convince the landlord | He is the property owner, so his involvement is the most legitimate. | The landlord is uncooperative, making communication difficult and time-consuming. |
| B. Hire a lawyer and sue myself | I’d have control over the situation and can protect my personal property. | Time-consuming and exhausting, with potentially high legal fees. |
| C. Hire a professional anti-squatter company | Potentially the most efficient and fastest option. | Involves legal risks and is quite expensive. |
Right now, I’m staying at a friend’s house, and I can’t eat or sleep properly from the stress. The landlord won’t act, the police say they need a court order, and I feel trapped in a vicious cycle. Has anyone been through a similar situation? Or do you have any legal advice? This is driving me crazy, please help! Thank you so much
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