Empty flats of 'large property owners' account for 80% of complaints for squatting

Mossos d'Esquadra police report that 80% of squatting complaints involve empty flats owned by "large property owners," as deputy head of the police, Alícia Moriana, told the Catalan News Agency (ACN).

The main issue is that large property owners are "quite difficult" to contact and inform of the need to file a police complaint. This is an important step that allows law enforcement agents to intervene. However, Moriano says that the number of squatted houses has dropped by 18.1% between January and October, compared to the same period in 2024.

Meanwhile, the number of failed attempts to occupy properties has increased due to "police action" and owners being "more aware" of the situation. Moriana believes that residents are also more informed, which helps police intervene faster, without having to wait for a lengthy judicial process.

The number of complaints filed for squatted houses, including both empty households and first- and second-residency cases, was 6,257 in 2024, an average of 17 per day.

This is 8% higher than 2023 and the highest figure since 2020, when authorities registered 6,458 squatted houses.

Between January and October 2025, the Mossos d'Esquadra registered 4,345, which is around 1,000 less than the same period in 2024. Police expect a smaller figure than last year's by the time December ends.

Data only shows the complaints filed with the police for squatting, not those filed with the judicial system, or those who have not started the process.

But while the number of squatted houses has decreased, the number of failed attempts has increased. Authorities have registered an uptrend since 2019. In 2024, officials recorded 2,057 attempts, almost five times as many as before the Covid-19 pandemic. During the first ten months of 2025, Mossos has already recorded 1,713, just six less than the same period last year. Therefore, estimates for 2025 suggest that figures will match or surpass those recorded in 2024.

The legislation allows neighbors or the city council to take action if the owner "does not comply with their obligations" and fails to intervene when squatters occupy their property. The law imposes fines of between €3,000 and €900,000 for those who do not take action.

Most of the squatted homes are empty flats owned by large property owners, which makes it difficult for police to reach them and push them to file a complaint.

"We have found cases where the large investment fund did not even know it was the owner of those apartments," Moriana told ACN. Many of these firms do not initiate the judicial process because the costs do not justify the investment, and many wait until the flat has a "financial appeal."

Pla de l'Estany and Berguedà

Official data on the number of squatted houses shows an 8% increase between 2023 and 2024.

Pla de l'Estany and Berguedà counties registers the most significant percentage increase, but with very few cases. Meanwhile, Vallès Occidental county recorded 218 additional complaints in 2024, a 40% increase, bringing the total to 761.

This is the county with the second highest incidence rate, just behind Barcelonès, with 1,467 squatted houses, around 4.2% less than in 2023.

In Girona, the councilor for security and coexistence, Sílvia Aliu, said that most of the squatted houses were empty flats, and not first or second homes. Some squatters have even entered all the apartments in one building.

"Most of them are owned by investment funds, banks, or Spain's Sareb [bad bank]," she said before adding that many of the empty apartments owned by large property owners are houses that are not available for residents in Girona.