Squatters in Palermo area
 

after a lot of let downs, I have hopefully found a property that works for me in Termini Imerese, however a family friend has just worried me a little.

He is from Palermo and is warning against leaving a property vacant in Termini as squatting has increased drastically and apparently takes 7-8 years to get them out once they are in, even if its obvious they have broken in to gain entry.

Is this true?

Re: Squatters in Palermo area
 

:(yes

Re: Squatters in Palermo area
 

thanks Ononno, I will only be in the house 3 months a year at most. Yes family may be there as well but lots of opportunity for someone to find a fully furnished vacant house. What are my options to:

Stop it in first place?
Get them out fast if they do get in?

Re: Squatters in Palermo area
 

Spain and Italy are pretty similar. Read this thread.http://britishexpats.com/forum/spain...-900293/page2/

Re: Squatters in Palermo area
 

I live here and dont recognise this at all. If it were a council property, then yes, but private property is different. Of course most locals would take the Sicilian solution, and not bother with the legal channels. HOwever as a privtae owner you do have rights - your problem would be if the property had been occupied through the 'management' of organised crime.
HOwever if you secure your property and someone gains access through criminal damage then they do not have squatters rights.

Re: Squatters in Palermo area
 

You don't hear that much about squatters here and Palermo is full of empty properties as its population is falling by about 10,000 a year. A big house on via Libert� was invaded by squatters last year but they were evicted in a very short time. You do hear about people not paying their rent and then it being very hard to evict them.
My partner has a house in the outskirts of Palermo that has been empty for 6 or 7 years without any problem apart from flooding sewers and overgrowing vegetation. According to her termini is less risky than Palermo It really depends where your house is and if you have good relations with your neighbours. I would be more worried about theft and damage to the property