Eight out of ten reports of squatting are in empty apartments owned by large landlords.

BarcelonaEighty percent of the reports received by the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) and local police forces regarding squatting involve empty apartments owned by large landlords or investment funds. According to data published this Saturday by the Catalan News Agency (ACN), squatting has fallen by around 18% during the first 10 months of this year compared to the same period last year, although more attempted squatting incidents have been recorded. Mossos' Deputy Chief Executive, Alicia Moriana, told ACN that when squatting occurs in apartments owned by large landlords or investment funds, the police often encounter "some difficulty" in locating the property owner and getting them to file a report, a crucial step for police intervention. In fact, the police have even encountered cases where "not even the investment fund itself was aware that it owned" the occupied apartment, and others where the owners refrain from initiating legal proceedings due to the costs involved until the property becomes "financially attractive" to them. Moriana believes that the 2023 housing law has helped alleviate these difficulties because it introduced measures to address the inaction of owners in cases of illegal occupation when they disrupt neighborhood peace. For example, in cases where employment causes public disturbances or is associated with criminal activity. If the owner is a large property owner who "neglects their obligation" to act, the commissioner points out, the residents' association or the city council can initiate legal action to obtain an eviction. The legislation even includes fines of between €3,000 and €900,000 for large property owners who fail to take action when faced with a job opening, and the local council can even temporarily acquire the property to use it for social housing. Regarding the number of jobs, the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) and local police forces in Catalonia have recorded 4,345 from January to October. This is about a thousand fewer than in the same period last year, and these figures lead the police force to believe that the final number by the end of the year could be significantly lower than in 2024. In fact, 6,257 jobs were recorded last year, an average of 17 per day, the highest figure since 2020, when there were 8. However, it should be noted that the data does not include cases that have gone directly to court or those in which no intervention has taken place.

Of all the reports of squatting, in both 2023 and 2024, nine out of ten were squatting incidents, meaning they affected vacant properties. Around 500 jobs each year were in primary or secondary residences. Furthermore, almost all squatting incidents in vacant properties, some 5,000 in 2023 and 2024, were peaceful, and only about 100 involved violence.

More failed attempts

However, while reports of squatting are decreasing, attempts to illegally occupy empty properties and attempted home invasions (occupying primary or secondary residences) have increased. Frustrated attempts to occupy properties have been steadily rising since 2019, reaching 2,056 last year, almost double the number from five years prior. This year, from January to October, 1,713 attempts have been recorded, six fewer than at the end of 2024. However, the police anticipate that the 2025 figures could equal or exceed last year's. Moriana believes that both the increase in failed attempts to occupy properties and the decrease in successful occupations are due to police activity, but also to "the sensitivity of the residents," which allows law enforcement to intervene without waiting for the course of legal proceedings. Furthermore, he points out that there has been increased awareness among property owners, who are "putting in place more physical protective measures" to prevent eruptions.