Squatting in Spain is no longer confined to homes or commercial premises. In recent months, private garages have increasingly become targets for intruders, particularly in urban areas where parking is highly sought after. This emerging trend adds further complexity to a phenomenon that already divides public opinion and continues to fuel political debate.
A legal loophole that complicates matters for owners
For an owner, discovering that their parking space has been taken over by another vehicle can be a difficult problem to resolve. Although the law recognises their right to use it, the legal process to recover possession can be lengthy. In the meantime, the affected party cannot request the municipal tow service, as traffic regulations do not apply on private property.
Congress recently approved a reform proposed by the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) aimed at expediting express evictions through the Organic Law on the Efficiency of the Public Justice Service. However, several associations warn that the measures fall short of tackling a practice that continues to grow.
How to deal with an occupied parking space
Experts recommend that in cases of this kind, the first step should be to contact the building’s community manager or the president of the residents’ association to try to identify the person responsible and reach an agreement. If this proves unsuccessful, the next step is to report the incident to the police.
Article 245.2 of the Penal Code criminalises the occupation of non-residential properties, punishable with fines ranging from three to six months. However, legal proceedings are often protracted, leaving property owners frustrated. Neighbourhood associations stress the importance of avoiding forceful solutions, as these risk escalating the legal conflict.
An increasingly common problem
Data from the Spanish Ministry of the Interior show that more than 15,000 cases of squatting or property break-ins were recorded in Spain in 2023. While the Spanish Statistics Institute (CIS) reports that only 0.9% of the population regards this as a priority issue, a survey by the Spanish Consumers’ Organisation (OCU) paints a different picture: 34% believe squatting is a serious problem, 19% say they know of a case personally, and 2% claim to have been direct victims.
The spread of this phenomenon to parking spaces poses a new challenge for owners and opens yet another front in an issue that is gaining increasing prominence on both the social and political agenda.
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