The Almería City Council has launched the Municipal Office for Advice to Persons Affected by Illegal Occupation. This new municipal service aims to provide legal tools to those affected by the illegal occupation of their homes, a reality that the mayor, María del Mar Vázquez, has described as "criminal and unjust".
The office, which also includes an Anti-Occupation Guide with keys to reacting effectively, aims to be an "ally" for property owners, offering them support to reverse situations of helplessness, economic loss, and uncertainty. The initiative was announced by the mayor alongside the Councilor for Urban Planning, Eloísa Cabrera, and the manager of the Municipal Housing Company ‘Almería XXI’, Pedro Gómez Calvache.
Vázquez recalled that in 2024, over 16,400 criminal offenses related to unlawful entry and usurpation were registered in Spain. The province of Almería records around 300 illegal occupations annually, with Andalusia being one of the most affected communities.
Both tools, the office and the guide, will be integrated into ‘Vive Almería’, the City Council's housing services platform through ‘Almería XXI’. Citizens can access them physically at Plaza Careaga or via the website www.almeria21.com/vive-almeria.
The mayor emphasized that the service is free and, while it "does not replace the action of the courts or the State Security Forces and Corps," it will offer personalized attention on property owner rights, necessary documentation, and procedures to follow, highlighting the importance of acting quickly.
The Anti-Occupation Guide, also available at www.almeria21.com/almeria-guia-antiocupacion, details how to react to an occupation or "inquiocupación" (attempted occupation), and clarifies the differences between home invasion and property usurpation, as well as cases of breach of rental contracts.
The guide warns that "one should never attempt to recover a property on their own" to avoid legal liabilities. It also includes a prevention section with recommendations for enhancing property security.
These initiatives complement other actions by the City Council in housing matters, such as the construction of 600 homes and the ‘Almería Alquila’ platform, offering "prevention, personalized advice, and support" to those affected by occupations.
