Sorry, but you have no idea what you're talking about. The "swift" solution would send you to jail in mere hours. You're presumed guilty. Yes, it defies any logic, but that's the way that it is.

My mom's husband had rented his previous flat (to complement his pension) to two women. They were working, very "normal" persons, and the contract specified that no other person could live there. One of them started dating a man and, a year later, there were three, then four (a child) living there. Then the other woman left (the guy was violent) and then the mother and her child had to flee too.

So my mom's husband had a guy that he never had any agreement with, living in his property, not paying rent, and not paying utilities. Now the law forbids to cut the utilities so you have to pay utilities for him. I think at the time (five years ago) it was still possible to cut. But the guy didn't care. After a year and a hell in courts, the flat was free again but a complete mess, broken furniture, mountains of junk. To weeks were needed just to clean, then paint, fixing doors, plumbing, etc.

He sold it ASAP. Now, I don't wonder why there's so little housing for rent.

so you're saying if i book a flight to spain tomorow, find someone who has JUST moved into a house, perhaps scouting for moving trucks, scream loudly, call police and say they threw me out by force, the guy just moving into his new house will be hauled away to jail and presumed guilty? no, that is not how it is.

what will happen is, police will come, you are in your house, some idiot claims to have legal right to the house, he cannot present SHIT, and at worst he will file some police report about you throwing him out, of which you might be fined.

> call police and say they threw me out by force, the guy just moving into his new house will be hauled away to jail and presumed guilty? no, that is not how it is.

That’s silly. You have scope out the place with your friends, and then wait till they leave for the weekend somewhere then break in and change the locks.

He might be hauled away if you manage to provoke him to hurt you, or cut your electricity, water. There is this idea that the squatters are all ignorant people. A lot are quite well educated on the legal aspects of the operation, have accomplices, and know exactly what to say and act when confronted.

What stops you from showing up with a locksmith and a few hired security paid to just throw their stuff out of the house onto the street and then change the locks? Thats how they do it in the US.

In Spain, that would put you (the rightful owner) in jail and the judge would tell you to give the keys to the squatter. Yes, it's that crazy.

If the squatter is allowed to break in while you're not home and change the locks, why can't the owner wait for them to be out and also break in and change the locks?

Does the law specifically say that breaking in is allowed by anyone except the legitimate owner?

Essentially, yes, that's how stupid law is in Spain. But if a third squatter would break in, they'd be safe. See eg https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.antena3.com/programas/espej...

Seems there might be a business opportunity in a “third squatter for hire” business.

There is no swift solution legally. At least not in California, and it sounds like Spain is similar.

It can take years and six figures to get a squatter out.

The person you are replying to seems to be advocating for the use of force. A swift, extra legal solution

I see. The problem with that is that the laws on the squatters side.

They asked what will they do, call the police? I suspect that's exactly what they would do.

no, the one trying to steal a house is begging for that.

They may be begging for it, but the law is on their side so they have nothing to fear from it. If they go to the police you'll end up in jail and I'll still be in your house.

how exactly does that work? you went into my house, I throw you out, you call police and they come and haul me away? what stops me from calling the police on random guys claiming they threw me out? what will you say when police comes? "I was trying to steal his house and he threw me out"?

im not saying to beat the squatter to a bloody pulp, im just saying, you go in, they are evicted, end of story

When the police come the squatter says that they are illegal tenant that has been living there can you beat them up and threw them out. They say that you were renting them a room or some nonsense like that.

In California the courts hold squatters innocent until proven guilty through a lengthy legal process. Meanwhile you are charged for with no delay because it is illegal to beat someone even if they are squatting in your house.

I don't like it, but this is the situation when the law is on the squatters side.

we were talking about spain I think, but either way, I didnt say beat up, but then,

what stops me from going outside a random house, call police, and have the residents hauled away saying EXACTLY what you just said?

and IF what you say is true, I would think that any squatter trying such a thing would be suicidal, because IF this is the outcome that would happen, perhaps residents might consider a slightly different solution

> you went into my house, I throw you out, you call police and they come and haul me away?

It’s just as ridiculous as it sounds. Unless they agree to leave, throwing them out will look like an assault. They’ll call the cops first and good luck going through a 3 year court process while the squatters live in and trash your place. And you better not turn the electricity or water off! They’ll complain as having have medical and sanitary needs and you put their lives in danger.

Yeah. Reminds me of a funny one in France where a stolen car had a tracker and it's location, behind a garage door, was known. But the police was saying: "Nothing can be done".

Turns out: the owner of the car had a friend who was a farmer. He came up with a tractor and ripped the garage door apart.

That was his definition of "nothing can be done".

If motherfuckers play dirty, play dirty with the motherfuckers.

my brother had a motorcycle stolen, and police didnt do shit. Eventually my brother managed to find out who stole it, and police still did not want to come. Turns out the thief also had some problems(owing money) with hells angels. A deal was struck with the fine angels, and the location of the perp was exchanged with (later that day) a recovered motorcycle. He was told the guy probably wouldnt be stealing motorcycles for a while :)

If one must negotiate with gangsters to get justice then it's time to reform the system.

well yeah, the regime is 100% out of control. Also, it was a pretty short negotiation, pretty much like: "yo, i give you location, i get my property??" "deal."