Legal procedure to deal with SQUATTERS

tebo53 wrote on Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:15pm:

Hi Benson,

Here are 2 links on the same subject:

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Has anyone any experience of Squatters?

Squatters

It may be tough reading but you will get answers to all your questions. 

Steve 

Benson wrote on Wed Aug 25, 2021 2:31pm:

Hi Steve,Thanks for response in this difficult matter.It would be nice to converse with someone who has actually gone through to find out the loop holes and mistakes before I actually start the ball rolling. As I am sure there will be problems afoot. As we are getting on it’s not the ideal prob...

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...lem to have to take on. So hopefully someone will come forward and advise . Will read up on your info. Thanks Benson

Keith001 wrote on Thu Aug 26, 2021 1:32am:

Hi Benson 

There are no tips as such , just an eviction process  that is triggered by your lawyer . Once the ball starts rolling your at the mercy of the biased Spanish judicial system. Our experience is different to yours because our issue was a tenant who stopped paying rent whereas yours is a fully-...

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...fledged squatter.

The first thing you need to discuss with your lawyer is whether to take the Criminal or Civil legal route to evict the squatter. He will advise you depending on your circumstances and the type of squatter that has invaded your home what your best options are.

Please find an Abogados who speaks fluent English, has many years experience in dealing with squatters and will respond quickly to your communications (even if it costs a bit more) . Do not just base your choice on Google or Trustpilot reviews because many are faked by their Stooges.

Also make sure they are registered lawyers because there are a lot of scammers around.

Public Warning.-Scammers passing themselves off as Spanish lawyers and law firms (belegal.com)

HMRC website have a list  of registered Spanish Lawyers that might assist you:

Spain: lawyers - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

We made a big mistake hiring a Spanish law firm with offices in the London claiming they spoke English (all lies). They never replied back to our emails or phone calls, used delaying tactics and lame excuses when we finally contacted their front desks.  The lawyers were subcontracted and couldn't converse in English and were incredibly unprofessional . They even lost all my original documents relating to our property but thank god I made photocopies or we'd have lost our Court cases (there were 3  in total). We signed a contract with them for a fixed rate for the eviction (from start to end of the process even with the risk of appeals to higher courts) rather than pay per hour . But they reneged on that deal and cancelled the contract when the going got tough (not cost effective).  So they dumped us in the middle of the eviction and we found another lawyer based in Alicante who, by chance, is excellent.  

So first thing is hire a good lawyer , then decide whether you want to proceed with the Criminal or Civil legal route to evict them. Then its all about the squatter lawyers doing their best to delay things using every trick in the book throughout the whole lengthy process (I'm afraid you will be helpless to stop them).

****Note that one can make a complaint about a lawyer to the Spanish Bar but you need to hire another lawyer to follow their complaint process and it can take 10 years ****

Keith001 wrote on Thu Aug 26, 2021 1:32am:

Hi Benson 

There are no tips as such , just an eviction process  that is triggered by your lawyer . Once the ball starts rolling your at the mercy of the biased Spanish judicial system. Our experience is different to yours because our issue was a tenant who stopped paying rent whereas yours is a fully-...

Read more...

...fledged squatter.

The first thing you need to discuss with your lawyer is whether to take the Criminal or Civil legal route to evict the squatter. He will advise you depending on your circumstances and the type of squatter that has invaded your home what your best options are.

Please find an Abogados who speaks fluent English, has many years experience in dealing with squatters and will respond quickly to your communications (even if it costs a bit more) . Do not just base your choice on Google or Trustpilot reviews because many are faked by their Stooges.

Also make sure they are registered lawyers because there are a lot of scammers around.

Public Warning.-Scammers passing themselves off as Spanish lawyers and law firms (belegal.com)

HMRC website have a list  of registered Spanish Lawyers that might assist you:

Spain: lawyers - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

We made a big mistake hiring a Spanish law firm with offices in the London claiming they spoke English (all lies). They never replied back to our emails or phone calls, used delaying tactics and lame excuses when we finally contacted their front desks.  The lawyers were subcontracted and couldn't converse in English and were incredibly unprofessional . They even lost all my original documents relating to our property but thank god I made photocopies or we'd have lost our Court cases (there were 3  in total). We signed a contract with them for a fixed rate for the eviction (from start to end of the process even with the risk of appeals to higher courts) rather than pay per hour . But they reneged on that deal and cancelled the contract when the going got tough (not cost effective).  So they dumped us in the middle of the eviction and we found another lawyer based in Alicante who, by chance, is excellent.  

So first thing is hire a good lawyer , then decide whether you want to proceed with the Criminal or Civil legal route to evict them. Then its all about the squatter lawyers doing their best to delay things using every trick in the book throughout the whole lengthy process (I'm afraid you will be helpless to stop them).

****Note that one can make a complaint about a lawyer to the Spanish Bar but you need to hire another lawyer to follow their complaint process and it can take 10 years ****

aitchc1401 wrote on Thu Aug 26, 2021 8:55am:

Hi Keith,

       the article from the BBC today might be of interest to anyone with squatters.

Read more...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-58310532

It's amazing that the situation with squatters is allowed to go on, though now it is starting to get wider attention outside of Spain perhaps the authorities will consider how to improve the law in favour of property owners. 

Aitch.

Benson wrote on Thu Aug 26, 2021 10:27am:

Thank you Keith for your comments and advice. It’s been very helpful .