Latest news with #squatters
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE We bought our dream home in Spain for a cut-price £173,000... but there was one catch: It had squatters - and they won't leave
When British ex-pat couple Chris Hicks and Natasha Retzmann first discovered an attractive detached three-bed home in Mallorca for sale for £173,000 they thought their dreams had come true. The pair, originally from Hertfordshire, thought it would be the perfect place to move to from their small island flat as it came with 1.3 acres of land which would allow their burgeoning passion for rescuing Spanish cats. They went ahead with the purchase despite discovering squatters inside, as they were advised the family of four would soon qualify for social housing and move out. But nine months on, Mr Hicks and Ms Retzmann have complained the squatters are still inside and have even installed CCTV - meaning they're stuck in their flat with two dogs and 47 cats. Spain 's socialist government imposes strict penalties on homeowners who remove squatters or enter squatted-in properties. Even standing outside can be seen as intimidation. Illegally evicting 'okupas' can result in a jail term of up to three years. Mr Hicks and Ms Retzmann first moved to the island from their home in the commuter-belt town of Tring in 2010, initially renting and then buying the two-bed flat they now find themselves stuck in. Chris and Natasha bought their attractive detached three-bed home in Mallorca for £173,000. It would have been more expensive but the property had sitting squatters that had to be removed Mr Hicks and Ms Retzmann quickly found they were upset by the living conditions of the island's cats, many of which are stray and often have health problems. They estimate they have since spent more than £60,000 of their own money rescuing some 450 cats, keeping those who are too ill to be adopted in their own home. But with dozens of cats now occupying every room the couple searched for a more spacious property and were seduced by the opportunity to own the beautiful, rural 'finca' mortgage-free for a below-market price. They admit they 'naively' relied on legal advice that the resident squatters should imminently be given social housing and ploughed all their savings into the purchase. But that social housing has failed to materialise and now the squatters are refusing to budge. They have even turned down a cash offer from Mr Hicks and Ms Retzmann to move out. The couple now face having to pay a further £10,000 in legal fees to try to evict them through the courts - which could take a further two years. In the meantime, they must continue to pay taxes on both their small flat and the villa as well as the mortgage on their existing flat - meaning they are financially struggling. Mr Hicks, 47, who works as a removals surveyor on the island, said of their dozens of cats: 'We started out rescuing a couple but it's got out of hand. 'The cats in our home all have either eyesight problems or missing limbs - and all are unadoptable. 'There is nobody here who wants to help them. 'People over here are barbaric with animals and we are the only help they can get, this is why we desperately need the Finca but the squatters know that and so does the government.' The couple knew the squatters - a mum, dad and two children - were living in the house when they bought the property but were given legal advice that they were due to be rehoused imminently because they had been on the social housing list for six years. But with no sign of them moving, Mr Hicks and Ms Retzmann face being trapped in their flat for two more years due to court backlogs. Ms Retzmann, 48, who runs a cycling clothing shop on the island, said: 'It's been incredibly frustrating. 'It's completely illegal for us to go to our own house, or anybody to go on our behalf, even to stand in front of it could be seen as intimidation. 'Chris walked past and a woman came out and pointed to the fact she'd installed CCTV which is hilarious as it's our property. 'You can see why squatting is a massive problem on the island. 'The fact we're expats 100 per cent counts against us. It's always been a problem getting paperwork approved if you have an English surname. 'We can do nothing except wait for the courts. God forbid with the illegal electricity setup the whole thing goes up in flames. 'And, of course, we can't insure it because of the squatters.' Squatting in Mallorca is widespread - last year alone there were 514 official reports of squatters, with the true number likely to be far higher. Last month, Joan Monjo, Mayor of Santa Margalida, claimed there were 1,500 squatters in his municipality - more than 10 per cent of the area's 13,750 occupants. The mayor said some of the squatters are immigrants who work as street vendors on the beaches. There are also children and workers who don't want to pay rent. He maintained that many of the squatters commit crimes in Santa Margalida. Mr Hicks and Ms Retzmann say they have gone out of their way to work with the squatters, even offering to pay their first two months rent on a new property, but have been met with resistance. The local council, which initially backed their plans, is now refusing to return their calls - something they attribute to an anti-expat attitude on the island. Ms Retzmann added: 'We knew the house had squatters in when we bought it and we have tried to work with them in a really friendly way, even offering them money to leave. 'We were quite happy to pay to have them removed in a kind and legal way through the courts. 'But we are having to pay all the taxes and face a massive bill to re-fit it once we do move in because who knows what we will walk into. 'We're still paying a mortgage on a second property for no reason, this apartment could be sold and the money spent to benefit the community and on animal rescue. 'I suppose maybe we were a bit naive,' she said, 'but we did seek legal advice before buying and were told the social services report on the family was damning because they had been on the housing list for six years and the limit is five so they would be moved soon. 'We've tried so hard to work with the local council but the problem is every minute it's delayed it is delaying us from selling our property. 'With all the anti-tourism stuff over here they seem to think every expat wants to buy an amazing house, cut the owner's throat with the offer then spend two weeks a year here but that isn't the case.'
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Yahoo
Squatters target vacant home in Spring Valley
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Squatters are targeting a vacant home in Spring Valley. According to the listing agent, the home is a probate listing, and the late owner's family is handling the issues from out of state. 'Somehow, these dangerous people got a whiff that it's vacant, and we started noticing some activity in there,' said the realtor, who wanted to remain anonymous for her safety. She told 8 News Now she has called police at least 10 times, but trespassing has continued at the property. Surveillance footage provided to 8 News Now shows various vehicles on the property that do not belong to the homeowner. 'We've changed the locks like a million times,' she said. 'The same kind of vehicles that we've been able to monitor, like SUVs and sedans, that keep coming around — they slow down, and they see someone on the watch and take off.' Even a U-Haul was captured on camera in front of the property. 'One time, they said they were coming in here to install flooring because the owner had ordered it,' the realtor said. 'We're like, 'No, we're on the phone with the owner now. She never ordered flooring, so we're going to call the cops.' And they ran.' Another senior neighbor told 8 News Now the problem at the home has been taking place for about a year and continues to get progressively worse. 'We're a small area, four houses on a cul-de-sac, so we're just concerned about what's going on in the property,' she said. Both women told 8 News Now the trespassers appear to be trying to take over the home, and someone even had power activated through NV Energy. 'I was infuriated,' the realtor said. 'We did not authorize any power. This is why we were keeping the power off. So we don't attract squatters.' 8 News Now reached out to NV Energy regarding the claims of power being activated without the owner's consent and is awaiting a response. The realtor started the eviction process. In Nevada, the formal process includes providing squatters with a formal written notice. If they still do not leave, a lawsuit can be filed to remove occupants. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Woman issues chilling warning to Brits buying holiday homes in Spain after squatters invade home and leave her £90k out of pocket
A British woman has warned against buying property in Spain after being forced to sell her squatted villa for a fraction of its value. Louise Bawn, 53, from Bristol, has been battling to win back her €160,000 (£138,000) home in Cartama, Malaga, since it was illegally occupied in early 2023. But after repeated inaction by the local police and courts, she has given up and decided to sell. She told MailOnline she will be lucky to get €30,000 (£26,000) as she must notify buyers that it comes 'okupado' - filled with squatters. She said: 'I stand to lose over €100,000 (£86,000), not to mention the amount I've already lost by them stealing two cars plus the entire contents of both the house and garage. 'My father had thousands of pounds worth of tools which are all gone… it's disgusting that they are allowed to get away with it.' The two-bedroom home is in the village of Sexmo, which sits in the picturesque hills of inland Malaga, but is only around a 20-minute drive from the coast. It was left to her by her late father, and she was in the process of renovating it when it was first broken into in February 2023. Louise went straight to the authorities who she says did nothing to turf the squatters out. For more than a year, Louise tried everything to get her house back, including hiring a so-called 'desokupa' firm, which sees a group of strong-armed men physically remove illegal dwellers. Louise estimates that she has spent upwards of €20,000 (£17,000) on trying to get her house back, including flights, accommodation and legal fees. The two cars which were allegedly stolen from her garage were worth €15,000 (£15,000), while her father's very expensive tools and solar panels he was set to install were valued at €50,000 (£43,000). The brand new kitchen that was in the middle of being installed was also ripped from the walls and taken away. The sheer level of destruction was not revealed until September 2024, when police finally removed the squatters after it emerged they were dealing drugs. The very same day, Louise entered the property to find it had been totally ransacked. In a video shared with MailOnline, a security team can be seen installing new alarms and security cameras. Incredibly, just five hours later, the property was taken over by more squatters. 'I believe there is a network in the area because the person who I saw the first time is not the same one who the alarm caught breaking in,' Louise added. The CCTV footage showed men breaking and entering, meaning the authorities had a right to remove them for breaking the law. Despite this, when the Guardia Civil showed up, they took the side of the squatters, leaving Louise locked out of her villa once more. She recalled: 'We secured the house and within five hours it was broken into again. The Guardia Civil arrived but believed them over us and our estate agent.' The squatters claimed they had been living there for two years. 'The police asked if we were sleeping there and when we said no because we were there to secure it and sell it, they just shrugged their shoulders.' Louise has been back and forth with the authorities for the past 10 months but has received no meaningful help. In a letter seen by MailOnline, the Foreign Office said it was 'unable to intervene in the judicial processes of another country.' Louise said: 'At some point I have to draw a line and stop throwing good money after bad', adding that she would 'never buy a property in Spain', and never wants to return to the country. Louise continued: 'My advice is don't even consider buying there… my only suggestion is for owners to get a monitored alarm, never leave the property empty for any length of time and get squatters insurance. 'None of this is a guarantee because I believe some of the police take bribes from the squatters to allow them to stay. 'The reality of owning a home in Spain is a far cry from the dream life portrayed on property shows. 'No amount of locks, security gates and alarms will stop the determination of these squatters because the law turns a blind eye and seems to be on their side rather than that of the homeowner. 'I bet it would be a different story if it was the cops' property being occupied!' Squatting has long been a scourge on the Spanish property market, but the public are becoming increasingly aware and tired of the lacklustre laws designed to tackle it. It comes after a new 'anti-squatter law' came into effect in April which allows squatters who break into a property to be evicted within 15 days. However, it does not apply to tenants who had a rental contract and stopped paying their landlord and refuse to move out. This has led many squatters to draw up fake rental contracts in a bid to delay their eviction. It's just one of the many tactics used by networks of squatters across the country, who make a business out of occupying homes. British estate agent Paul Stuart, 44, of Palm Estates, has been working along the Costa del Sol for years. He told MailOnline how the squatter issue has been getting 'progressively worse' since Covid. He said: 'I've got loads of clients affected. It genuinely upsets me what these people are doing to people, it's so disgusting and immoral, it's hard to find the words.' He said the new squatter law does nothing to tackle the problem. 'The thing is, there is a squatter's bible online that gives them all the advice on how to manipulate the law. 'They are trained and make their own contracts, as soon as cops show up they say 'yep, we are renters here'.' He said once squatters enter an apartment complex, they begin scouting other properties for their network to occupy. He explained: 'They are surveying homes, I've been following them… they get into one, then watch the others on the development to identify empty properties, then pass that info on… 'Then they go with the locksmith, change the locks, then sell the keys and move onto another one.' Paul said it is more difficult to evict squatters in inland areas because the courts are more backlogged. He added: 'The squatter issue is progressively getting worse, especially since Covid. 'There are multiple reasons why, one of them is that the rents are too high for more people, and the government has not done a good job of organising social housing. 'Finally, the court system doesn't deal with bad tenants well enough, meaning the risk factor for landlords renting long term is very, very high. This means they either put them on Airbnb instead, depleting demand, or up the rent to account for the risk.'
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Yahoo
Violent Squatters Terrorize Ritzy Southern California Neighborhood
Violent squatters in Los Angeles are prompting concerning cries from residents, and many are calling on city officials to remedy the situation. Surveillance footage revealed that some squatters—people who unlawfully occupy an empty building or lot—have been setting fires and vandalizing property around certain California neighborhoods. The first accounts of the terrifying behavior occurred in Beverly Grove, an upscale neighborhood located in the Mid-City West region of Los Angeles—where the median list price is $1,195,000, according to May data. The area is known for its vibrant shopping and dining scene, including the Beverly Center and the Grove outdoor mall. The neighborhood is situated between Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. 'It's been absolutely terrifying. We are on hold with our lives right now until this is resolved,' Anita Cavallo, a woman who lives in the Beverly Grove area, told ABC7. The concerns come after a transient attacked a gardener outside a home in Brentwood, and it was all captured on video footage, according to ABC7. The footage shows the gardener being slammed over the head with a long pole, then falling to the ground momentarily and clutching his injured head. Even as the gardener tried to create distance by putting a garbage can between himself and the attacker, he was still in a vulnerable position. The squatter was seen advancing toward the victim, yelling loudly. Cavallo said roughly 20 transients roam around a boarded-up apartment complex on Flores Street. Although several of the houses in this area have tall fences to maintain safety and privacy, they do not always protect residents from unsuspecting, random attacks. Cavallo noted that one woman set fire to a vacant apartment complex over and over until residents were forced to extinguish the flames themselves. 'She's an arsonist,' Cavallo told ABC7. 'She got arrested a couple weeks ago … saw her light of fire last week, and she lit a big one last night. 'It feels like no one has proper answers for us. Everyone just blames someone else and tells us nothing they can do, so we don't know where to go anymore for help,' she added. The building owner mentioned that they have plans to rebuild the property. In the meantime, residents are worried that more violent attacks will ensue as unhoused people misuse the property. 'Californians have consistently cited homelessness as a top issue facing the state, and in 2024, homelessness reached record highs,' according to the Public Policy Institute of California. 'Of the nation's 771,500 people experiencing homelessness, over 187,000 (24%) were in California. Two in three were unsheltered, accounting for almost half of the country's unsheltered population.' Although these numbers are troubling, the institute also noted that unsheltered population growth in the U.S. (7%) outpaced California (0.4%), reversing the previous decade's trend of larger increases in the Golden State. In California, the presence of homelessness and homeless encampments can negatively affect property values, particularly when these encampments are visible or create disturbances. Generally, properties located near homeless encampments sell for lower prices than comparable properties. However, the impact on property values can vary, and some research suggests that affordable housing, when well-managed, can even have a positive or neutral impact on neighborhood property values. In May 2025, California Gov. Gavin Newsom released a state model for cities and counties to address dangerous and unhealthy encampments and connect people experiencing homelessness with shelter and services. 'There's nothing compassionate about letting people die on the streets. Local leaders asked for resources—we delivered the largest state investment in history,' Newsom said in a press release. 'They asked for legal clarity—the courts delivered. 'Now, we're giving them a model they can put to work immediately, with urgency and with humanity, to resolve encampments and connect people to shelter, housing, and care. The time for inaction is over. There are no more excuses.' How a $25 Million Sale Changed a Beach Town in New Jersey Olympian Gary Hall Jr. Starts Over in Florida After Fire Destroys Palisades Home—and the 10 Medals in His 'Fireproof' Safety Box Saving for a Home in Hawaii Takes 29 Years—See How Long It Takes in Your State
CBS News
26-06-2025
- CBS News
Another fire marks latest in troubling incidents surrounding squatters in abandoned Beverly Grove apartments
Yet another troubling incident has ignited fears of Beverly Grove residents who live near a complex of abandoned apartments that have been taken over by squatters. Cell phone video shows the moments that a large fire burns behind the buildings, located at First Street and S. Flores Flores Street, in the middle of the night on Tuesday. "I was just trying to sleep and I saw some orange in my window," said Leo Petronzio. "It was fire, and we were all rushing outside." Multiple neighbors rushed from their homes, grabbing fire extinguishers to try and put out the flames burning near the three vacant buildings. It's been more than a week since CBS News Los Angeles first spoke with residents living nearby, who say this is just another in a long trend of concerning issues created by the nearly 20 squatters who took over. In the time since, the property owner has put up "No Trespassing" signs, and some city officials have taken notice, but neighbors say there aren't any less people residing inside. They're using a hole in the chainlink fence to get back in, undeterred by the new signage. There was also news that the property may be demolished, as the property owner claimed that construction would be completed on what is supposed to be a 50-unit complex. Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor and president of West Coast Trial Lawyers, says that the signs are aligned with city code. "For there to be an arrest one of two things has to happen," Rahmani said. "The property owner needs to ask for it to happen, say that this individual is trespassing, or they have to fill out a form ... that allows LAPD to arrest someone, even if the property owner isn't there." Neighbors say that waiting for something like that to happen, despite their litany of pleas to the owner and city, could just lead to more danger. "My life is on hold right now. My daughter is traumatized, I am sending her to sleep at her friends house, not pleasant at all," said Anita Cavallo. CBS News Los Angeles reached out to City Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky about the matter. A spokesperson for her office shared a statement, that read: "The ongoing conditions at this property are outrageous and unacceptable. The Council Office has continued to apply pressure to ensure the owner addresses the safety and nuisance issues without delay, including requesting the repair of fencing around the properties and hiring private security." The property owner has not responded to request for comment on the latest incident. Los Angeles Fire Department says that an arson investigator is looking into the cause of the fire.
