Can someone please tell me how this is possible? Do Spanish authorities live in some parallel universe where normal logic doesn't apply?These people live in an apartment for 21 years, they go on vacation and have to rush back because Okupas have taken over their place. How long does it take to get the lowlifes out? 16 months! My favorite quote is when the judge on the case wouldn't evict the criminals because, "The squatters don't have funds to find another place"!
"Human rights" have run amok. No wonder no one will rent out an apartment in Spain. You can't even get people you didn't rent to - out of your piso.
If this happens to me I might be going to jail because I'm going in my place swinging a baseball bat.
10 comments:
This is what happens when you elect a generation's worth of people who think "cowboy" is an insult.
This can only happen in Spain and "maybe" in a Simpsons episode :)
One more reason to stay away from Spain. Thanks for reminding me.
Yup. This happens pretty frequently. I've seen it happen firsthand on more than one occasion. Some tenants in my very building lived here rent-free (with "free" water & electricity too) simply because they couldn't afford to leave. After several complaints and appeals, they finally did leave - after living here for more than 1 year. They were Spaniards but it doesn't matter their citizenship. Spanish laws do protect those "less fortunate" for which I am truly glad. They'd rather have no-paying squatters in homes than on the streets. This is a good example of "sharing the wealth" and I think it is a good way to live in general. However, a few specific examples, like this one, needs some looking into.
Saludos, MadridMan
Hey! The famous MadridMan!
I know I don't comment much on your site but I am one of your first readers way back when - I would say 1998? Is that possible? Maybe even earlier. You were the first Yanqui computer presence on all things Madrid. Thanks for your work.
But MadridMan, you are way too nice. People are taking advantage of the system and it is hurting everyone. There are scores of empty pisos in Madrid because people are afraid of renting due to this sort of thing.
A "social safety net" is one thing but people taking direct advantage of others is quite another.
This is too weird. Isn't there some law in Spain that says you can 'take over' a building only if it has been empty for more than a year?
That's how the situation is in the Netherlands. Still sad, but at least better than this.
Hi there!
Yes, it's very possible you first visited in 1998. MadridMan was "born" in 1996 but by 1998 I'd already had a couple trip journals and a bunch of photos posted on the website. The message board got started in 2000.
It's true, there ARE lots of empty flats in Madrid and sometimes people arrive at their summer homes to find them "OKU-PIED" by "Okupas". Imagine that! And then they have to go through a month's-long process to evict them. It's too much.
Saludos, MadridMan
I think that the really "okupa" is who have more than one house, in their own property. Because is having one space that is not useful, only for the price of dirty money.
If Roto see that you use his images, and then you speak like this, maybe ( sure ) he disapointt
ale
you will not publish this, dosen't matter.
Hi Masturbator,
Many, Many people in Spain have more than one Piso. They got them through hard work, or being smart and taking an investment risk, or from family, etc. I know many people may want to change this, but Spain still is (basically) a capitalist country that (for now) respects private property.
If the rental laws were not so difficult favoring the renters only, many empty Pisos would be rented.
As far as El Roto, I don't think he would mind me using his drawings in my little non-commercial blog. He is always credited, it is more publicity for him, and I'm sure he is a big boy and can take a little criticism.
Took me 18 months to evict a non-paying heroin addict. Every time we got to court she just happened to be in jail for prostitution, drug sales or extortion. Judge continued the case for a month, until she could attend, over and over and over!
Nasty!
In the end the judge that was (I assume) trying to help that addict ended up enabling her and hurting her more.
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