A British couple were flabbergasted when they returned to their beloved Spanish holiday home and found it had been taken over by squatters. The pair, from Kent, had made their way back to their property on the Balearic Island of Menorca in June having been away for three months.
But when they turned up at the pretty white-washed home they were stunned to discovered a new alarm system had been installed and their furniture and rugs had been removed. It was clear to the shocked owners someone had been living in their house and Spanish media reported a local father and son, aged 55 and 25, later turned up saying they lived there.
Police were called after an altercation took place and both parties accussed one another of assault.
According the Majorca Daily Bulletin, Spanish police bizarrely initially sided with the squatters after the two men produced invoices showing they had bought the alarm and ordered supermarket deliveries.
The British couple were forced to stay in a hotel until the next day when their lawyer provided Land Registry documents and evidence confirmed they were the legal owners and the two men inside the house were imposters.
The couple from the UK and their legal team complained of alleged illegal occupation and theft by the father and son and police later arrested the pair.
It’s reported the relieved owners of the villa have now moved back into their property as court proceedings continue.
The couple from Kent could have been lucky in this instance that the police made an arrest because, while squatting is illegal in Spain, the legal process can be a nightmare for homeowners if the people living in their property refuse to move out.
Under a fast-track procedure squatters can be removed instantly if it can be proved they moved in within the last 48 hours, but if this can’t be proved the rogue home invaders can drag out the process because the court often requires notice to be given to them for their removal.
Last year, British woman Joanne Venet, 61, was forced to pay £4,000 to an eviction agency to remove a Spanish tennant who refused to pay their rent.
