Since last summer, around 200 luxury villas in Mallorca have been occupied by squatters whose aim is to demand a 'ransom' from the owners.
This form of squatting has been occurring in some of Mallorca's most sought-after areas - Son Vida, Portals, Santa Ponsa, Costa dels Pins, Port Pollença - and it can come to an end quite swiftly. The cases don't go to court. Owners pay the squatters to get out. It happens, although as one police officer puts it: "No one wants to admit they've paid €150,000 or more to get a squatter to leave their luxury villa.
"We're talking fincas, villas and chalets valued at several million euros, so owners are willing to shell out very large sums of money to get them to leave their second homes and stop causing problems."
There was recently a case which went before the courts in Manacor. A lawyer had secured an 'express' eviction to remove a couple and their adult son from a luxury property in Son Servera. They were each fined €700. This, however, was an example of 'traditional' squatting. It wasn't one of the 'tenant-squatter' variety, whereby a rental contract is entered into, the rent may be paid for two to three months but then isn't.
A situation of 'vulnerability' is often claimed. Organised gangs can be behind this form of squatting. "Those affected know that if they go to the ordinary courts, the situation can drag on for many months or years, so many of them end up negotiating a ransom for their property."
The profile of squatters has changed. There are now those who understand the legal process and exploit loopholes in order to pressurise owners. "In some cases, they demand increasing amounts of money as the months go by, knowing that the owner needs to recover the property."