In Spain, disputes between owners and illegal occupants have gained prominence in recent years, with cases that raise doubts about the effectiveness of laws and the protection of the lease. In this scenario, a deemed owner and palm merchant is forced to pay the light, water and gas of a family that illegally occupies his home. Cristina Muñoz, who manages a store in the city center, has been facing this situation for almost a year, when the tenant stopped paying income, but continued to occupy the property, according to the digital newspaper Okdiario.
A year of conflict
The story began in September last year, when Cristina decided to lease her home, whose mortgage is still paying. The contract seemed safe, but in March the payments stopped. At the same time, he faced a divorce and was in charge four children, including a minor. To aggravate the situation, the family that occupies the house refuses to leave, even after Cristina had just renewed her completely before he leased it.
“I have to make me office of my house and even pay them the Light Receipt, which the last one was 902 euros, plus my electricity bill in the apartment where I live. They live in my dwelling like kings,” he said, cited by the same source. “The situation is in court and reported to the police, but the law is very slow. I wonder if I can pay where I am now or if my children and I will end up displaced.”
Failed negotiation
Cristina even proposed that they abandon the house without paying accumulated debts (six months of income and service expenses), but the proposal was refused.
The owner believes that the occupant acted in a premeditated manner: “When we signed the contract, he presented himself as director of a company and gave a telephone number, but when we called no one answered.”
Between law and uncertainty
For Cristina, the law is on the wrong side. “This is not fair to any family. Occupation destroys lives and the law does not act in time. My little daughter asks when we go home, but I have no answer.” While simultaneously pays income and mortgage, another family lives at no cost on your property, as reported by the digital newspaper.
According to the owner, the occupant is “professional in this” and the near future worries her: “Winter is coming, and I see in a really serious situation. I’m on the tightrope and I feel totally unprotected.”
Cases such as Cristina’s have been increasing in recent years in various regions of Spain, feeding the debate on the need for legislative changes that accelerate eviction processes and reinforce owners protection.
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