How to prevent squatters in your property? 5 solutions

In our country, it is common for many citizens to own second homes, which they either rent out to obtain a monthly income, or leave empty to use during holiday periods. Unfortunately, the crisis of a few years ago and the serious economic situation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic have meant that many people cannot afford rent, and some of them choose to illegally occupy these second homes.

Tips to prevent your property from being squatted

If your second home is squatted and you have not contacted the authorities within the first 48 hours, you will have significant problems legally evicting the squatters, as you will need a court order to do so.As a first piece of advice, if you have an uninhabited second property, it is advisable to rent it out, as, in addition to preventing an occupation, you will save a lot of expenses in time and maintenance of the property itself. If renting is not an option, let's look at other tips on how to prevent squatters in your property.

Reinforce entrance security

Investing in a high-security door is a great option when dealing with illegal occupations, as these incorporate resistant systems that make opening without the corresponding key very difficult.Reinforcing windows is also fundamental, as it is another way squatters can try to access the home.In this section, it is worth highlighting the effectiveness of alarm systems, where owners can control access at all times thanks to a camera, in addition to notifying the police if an intruder manages to enter the property.

Continuous communication with neighbours

If the property belongs to a building or residential complex, it is advisable to have regular contact with neighbours, as they can notify you if they hear noises or notice strange movements around your home. Furthermore, the figure of the concierge or doorman (if your community of neighbours has one) is of great help in preventing unknown people from entering the block or residential complex.

Be careful with social media posts

Many squatters use social media to analyse the routines and movements of property owners. For this reason, it is not at all advisable to constantly upload all your movements to social media, as they can become very useful information for someone looking for a property to squat.

What to do if you detect that your property has been squatted?

As mentioned above, the first 48 hours are vital if your property has been squatted. You must notify the police as soon as possible, as, within this period, they can prevent the occupation, either by arresting or evicting the intruders (the crime is different if a habitual dwelling is squatted compared to a second home).If it is a second home and that period has passed, the police will not be able to enter and evict them, as there is no anti-squatter law. The first option is to try to negotiate with the squatters for them to leave amicably, but if this is not achieved, you will have to identify the intruders and report them. If you also fail to do so, your only option is to resort to the civil route, which is a long and costly process, to which is added the subsequent reconditioning of the home in many cases.Squatting causes a difficult time for all those owners who see their second homes invaded by other people without their consent. Although it is a situation that generates a lot of helplessness, you should never resort to force, as you could then become the one considered a criminal. To avoid all these problems, we recommend that you use an access control system that guarantees security and notifies you if someone illegally breaks into your property.

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