77% of Spaniards believe that squatting is a social problem, according to a study

77% of Spaniards consider that squatting is a social problem in Spain, compared to 8% who think it is a residual phenomenon without major significance that is usually exaggerated for political reasons..

These are some of the conclusions of the study 'Spaniards facing the 'squatting' of housing in Spain. Opinion, concerns and proposals', prepared by Línea Directa Aseguradora based on the results of 1,700 surveys carried out throughout Spain from June 14 to 19, 2023 and presented this Tuesday.

In this sense, the study specifies that one in four Spaniards (24%) believes that there are “medium or high” chances of their home being “squatted”. According to data from the Ministry of the Interior and the General Council of the Judiciary, cases have increased by 37% between 2018 and 2022, exceeding 75,000 complaints and 15,000 civil procedures in that period.

Furthermore, 31% of those surveyed are directly or indirectly aware of a case, a percentage that stands out in the Balearic Islands, with 39%.. Precisely, by CC.AA, Catalonia (with 650 cases reported in 2022), Andalusia (535) and the Valencian Community (390) are the communities with the highest incidence.

The study specifies that where the greatest concern about this phenomenon is found is in Catalonia (83%), Andalusia (81%) and Cantabria (81%) while Navarra, Galicia and the Valencian Community are less concerned..

According to those surveyed, the causes of squatting are the slowness of justice (28%), social permissiveness (25%) and the difficulty in accessing housing due to high prices (23%). Furthermore, almost three out of every four citizens think that the penalties for this type of practices “are very lax” and that “there is no legal certainty”.

Tighten penalties or expedite evictions, among the solutions

The report adds that 22% of Spaniards claim to know the current regulation in this regard well, while half say they have general notions and 28% admit to not knowing it at all.. In this sense, toughening penalties and speeding up evictions are the preferred solutions to mitigate 'squatters' according to 60% of Spaniards, ahead of other measures such as facilitating access to housing (45%) or focusing police action on organized mafias (31%).

The eviction process, which, according to official data from the General Council of the Judiciary, can last more than 20 months, is another issue to be addressed by the study.. Thus, 53% of those surveyed are in favor of an eviction by the police without the intervention of the judge in the event that ownership or the existence of a binding contract is not proven 'in situ'. Meanwhile, 35% are in favor of a judge always intervening in the procedure, but with much shorter deadlines..

Finally, 76% of those surveyed would be willing to take out 'anti-squatting' insurance, with the payment of the mortgage (35%) and processing expenses (30%) being the most valued coverage..