Can I evict a squatter from my home?
Yes, and now faster — but through the legal route. Organic Law 1/2025 on the efficiency of the justice service, in force since 3 April 2025, lets home-breaking (allanamiento de morada) and property usurpation be handled as fast-track trials, with eviction in about 15 days from being put before the court. Home-breaking is occupying your habitual home (or a second one you actually use): if detected within the first 48 hours, security forces can evict without waiting for a court order (in-the-act offence). Usurpation is occupying an empty home or one meant for rent and follows the fast judicial route. Never take justice into your own hands (cutting utilities or forcing entry can backfire).
📋 The rules
- Home-breaking (habitual home): a crime; in-the-act within 48 h = police eviction
- Usurpation (empty/rental home): judicial route via fast-track trials
- LO 1/2025: eviction in about 15 days from being put before the court
- Prove ownership (Land Registry note) and the illegal occupation
- No taking justice into your own hands
🔓 Exceptions
- The judge can set the eviction date and time in the first ruling
- The prior socio-economic assessment before eviction is removed for these crimes
- A tenant who stops paying isn't a squatter; the eviction-for-arrears procedure applies
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Illegally occupying a home is a crime (home-breaking or usurpation), with tougher penalties after the reform (fines and, in serious cases, prison). For the owner, the key is to act fast: report immediately and provide the Land Registry note and evidence of the occupation. Cutting water or power, changing the lock or forcing entry can be coercion and hurt your position. So use the police and judicial route, now far quicker.
📎 Official sources
- BOE · Organic Law 1/2025 on justice-service efficiency →
- Administración · Illegal occupation of homes →
- Ministry of the Interior · Acting against squatting →
❓ Frequently asked
Can you evict a squatter quickly?
Yes. Since 3 April 2025, LO 1/2025 lets home-breaking and usurpation be handled as fast-track trials, with eviction in about 15 days. If the occupation of your home is detected within the first 48 hours, police can evict without a court order.
What's the difference between home-breaking and usurpation?
Home-breaking is occupying your habitual home or a second one you actually use. Usurpation is occupying an empty home or one meant for rent. Both are now handled by fast-track trials, but the first allows in-the-act eviction within 48 hours.
What do I need to report the occupation?
Prove your ownership with a Land Registry note and provide evidence that the occupation is illegal. Report as soon as possible: speed is key, especially for the in-the-act eviction in the first 48 hours.
Can I cut the squatter's water or power?
No. Cutting utilities, changing the lock or forcing entry can be a coercion offence and backfire. You must use the police and judicial route, which under the new law is far quicker.
And if it's a tenant who stops paying?
They're not a squatter: they have a lease. In that case the eviction-for-arrears procedure applies, different from illegal occupation. The anti-squat law applies to those who enter a home without title.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “evict squatter home fast 2026”
- “anti-squat law lo 1/2025”
- “squatter eviction 48 hours”
- “home-breaking usurpation”
- “express eviction squatter 15 days”
- “cut power squatter crime”