agree_to_disagree

Rosemary, that is very useful information that you posted at the end of another thread, but it is closed now.

I thought that it was sufficiently important, that it warranted a thread all of its own.

Most of us on here are either already house owners or are perspective house owners, in Spain.

I think it would be very useful to understand the merits of this insurance, if there were any catches and what limitations applied.

Your previous post is below.
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"I have inserted a message from DOWNANDOUT about the insurance in case it is of any help to other members.

Here is the link for the insurance against Okupas (couldn't believe it was only 33.14 euros per year).

They have a fluent English speaking contact (Elena) who will answer any questions you may have . There doesn't seem to be any 'catches' in the policy but I've forwarded this info to Mark Stucklin ('Spanish Property Insight' website ) to check it out.

Email: [email protected]
Legal defence insurance against "okupas" - Just Insurance"

Moses2013

It seems the situation is getting worse in Catalonia and just today several properties have come up for sale in our province that mention they are illegally occupied.

https://www.idealista.com/inmueble/101935730/
https://www.idealista.com/inmueble/101935829/
https://www.idealista.com/inmueble/101935791/
https://www.idealista.com/inmueble/101935787/
https://www.idealista.com/inmueble/101935597/
https://www.idealista.com/inmueble/101935375/

Waiver of actions: the professional buyer will expressly waive any claim against the seller due to the special conditions of the property and all of the above.

Moses2013

Now even in other provinces more and more properties like this appearing, is it some kind of sell off? All posted now.

In Alicante
https://www.idealista.com/inmueble/101937222/

In Valencia
https://www.idealista.com/inmueble/101936581/

Behind this one you can see an agency name.
https://www.idealista.com/inmueble/101883839/
1º. - It does not allow a mortgage on the property, banks do not finance these operations.
2nd. - This property can NOT be seen inside, but you can know its exact location and those features detailed in this ad. (we do not have photos of the interior).
3rd. - Obtaining the keys will depend on the course of the procedure.
4th. - Our professionals attend the judicial procedure until obtaining the keys.
5th. - The law requires the successful bidder to update the community and IBI, if due, in the last 4 years (we do not know debt).
6th. - Expenses of the buyer: ITP and registration (notary according to the status of the procedure).

Barriej

Thats interesting.
If you select English the fact its illegally occupied disappears from the description.
But in Italian or French or German it states illegal occupation.....
But open the listing in chrome and let it auto translate gives the full description in English..

That to me would indicate that the site (or the listing agent was trying to mislead any English speaking buyers)

Who in their right mind would even consider a property purchase of this type????

Moses2013

Yes, I noticed this before and really is strange why it's not mentioned in English unless you use Chrome Translation. Actually found this article from last year:

https://inspain.news/home-sales-incl...estate-market/

Who are the buyers of occupied homes?

But who buys a house with squatters in it? “There are people who see a business opportunity. Average investors who think they can evict the squatters to sell the homes for much more money later” says one of the experts.

There are also investment funds that specifically focus on this type of acquisition. As an example, Clemente points to a case of a 14-family building – “all occupied” – in Campohermoso (Níjar). That was bought by a fund that then offered the same residents to legally take over the homes. “I think they sold six of the flats that way,” he notes.

Moses2013

It's sickening to read this and Almeria region seems pretty bad too.
https://www.diariodealmeria.es/almer...771623160.html

• It is the second Spanish province with the highest number of squatter houses
  
• 75% of the properties, owned by banks and investment funds, are used as marijuana laboratories
  

The so-called "hot spots" , that is, where the greatest squatting occurs is in El Ejido, Roquetas de Mar, Vícar and Pescadería.

https://www.idealista.com/inmueble/101925807/
Another bargain

spainrico

Or maybe the gang who put the squatters in buys it and moves them on?

The world is a devious place...

missile

Scary :-(

Moses2013

The strict solution against squatters that is applied in Germany and other European countries could reach Spain
https://www.eleconomista.es/vivienda...-a-espana.html

Almost 2 years to evict in Spain

With updated data, in Spain, according to data evidenced by the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) and collected by Idealista, the average term has been extended to reach 20.5 months , between the procedures of the Courts of First Instance and those of the Provincial Courts.

Moses2013

And more and more. Soon there will only be Okupas in Spain if this continues. Apparently the rented ones can't be seen either (seems dodgy as you would normally have to give tenants max 24 hours notice for a viewing).
Alicante Province
https://www.idealista.com/inmueble/102109243/
Attention: Housing with OKUPAS, it cannot be visited, therefore we will only process cash offers, it cannot be financed.

https://www.idealista.com/inmueble/102109480/
Attention: Housing with OKUPAS, it cannot be visited, therefore we will only process cash offers, it cannot be financed.

Almeria Province
https://www.idealista.com/inmueble/102109018/
Investment opportunity: rented property. Current income: €430.81/month. Contract end date: 07/2026. Impossibility of internal visit.

Malaga Province
https://www.idealista.com/inmueble/102109279/
Investment opportunity: occupied property. Impossibility of internal visit.
The photographs may not correspond to the current state of the property.

Barcelona Province
https://www.idealista.com/inmueble/102109053/
Investment opportunity: occupied property. Impossibility of internal visit.
The photographs may not correspond to the current state of the property.

Barriej

You have to ask, if these properties are bank owned and they are hoping someone armed with a baseball bat will see an opportunity.
I cant think why a private owner would try to offload a property like this, or am I missing something???

Our squatters are still in the other block, but they came to an agreement with the owner and now pay what rent they can afford. They are a young couple who fell on hard times and had no real alternative.

Moses2013

It's hard to say but some seem to be bank owned and others will have private owners who have just given up and maybe can't cope. When you read how long it can take some owners probably don't have the money for legal fees.

When you say agreement, do they have a rental contract or is it really just an agreement/handshake?

Barriej

They now have a rental contract at 50% of the going rate.
The owners are Norwegian, who over paid and then spent money doing up a flat that they now cant sell as it owes them too much money...

Ronnyone

Well it will be interesting to see if PP/ Vox get in power next week. Both parties have been campaigning hard on the okupas issue and therefore will have an onus to do bring in new legislation quickly. However, given that squatting was even worse when PP were in power than now it will be amusing to see them try and alleviate the situation. The only way they can do anything is by actually employing more funcionarios to assist the courts to speed up the system and given they actually want to reduce the public sector bill it is unlikely to happen- that is why you have okupas ( it takes about two years to get your case heard)

Moses2013

Thanks and good to know. I just found this article from today
https://www.heraldo.es/noticias/naci...e-1665621.html