Property squatting crisis has reached alarming levels across Catalonia, with new data revealing the region leads Spain in occupied properties currently listed for sale. According to third-quarter figures from property portal Idealista, Catalonia accounts for 39% of all such cases nationwide. This troubling statistic places the region significantly ahead of Andalusia (22%) and the Valencian Community (11%) in the national ranking.
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Property Squatting Crisis Extends Across Catalan Capitals
Girona and Tarragona lead provincial capitals with the highest percentages of occupied properties on the market, recording 8.9% and 8.8% respectively. Meanwhile, Barcelona province records the highest absolute number of cases at 6,587 occupied properties listed for sale. Furthermore, all four Catalan provincial capitals exceed the Spanish average of 3%, demonstrating the widespread nature of this property squatting crisis across the region.
Barcelona province consequently leads in percentage terms at 7.9% of total cases, followed by Sevilla (6.6%) and Toledo (5.3%). Additionally, Tarragona records 4.4% of occupied properties for sale, while Lleida stands at 4.3% and Girona at 3.7%. These figures highlight how the property squatting crisis affects urban centres throughout Catalonia.
The data reveals 23,010 properties across Spain currently have squatters despite being actively marketed for sale. Francisco Irañeta, Idealista’s spokesperson, emphasised the significant impact on homeowners. “Despite attempts in some quarters to downplay the squatting phenomenon,” he stated, “the number of frustrated property owners seeking legal intervention remains highly relevant.”
Homeowners consequently face substantial financial losses, often forced to sell at prices approaching 50% below market value. Therefore, policymakers must address this property squatting crisis with measures that enable legitimate property recovery. The situation contrasts sharply with Soria, the only Spanish capital reporting zero cases of occupied properties for sale.
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