Owning a squatted property is one problem; feeling trapped with it is another. The good news: an occupied home can be sold — there is a real market of investors who buy them — and, since the 2025 reform, recovering it before selling is far faster. This guide covers the law, your three real exits in Alicante and the mistakes that cost money (or a criminal complaint).

What the law says in 2026: the express eviction

Since 3 April 2025, the reform known as the "anti-squatting law" (Organic Law 1/2025) has moved the offences of breaking into a dwelling and unlawful occupation into the fast-track trial system: the hearing and, where applicable, the eviction order can arrive in around 15 days, versus the months or years it used to take. If the occupant cannot produce a valid contract or authorisation, the procedure moves straight towards eviction. Provincial data also puts the problem in proportion: Alicante ranks fourth in Spain for squatted homes offered for sale (around 1,400 in late 2025), yet that is barely 1.4% of all homes on the market — half the national average — and new occupation lawsuits fell 51% in the first half of 2025. You will find the full analysis in the 2025 anti-squatting law in Alicante.

Squatter or non-paying tenant: two problems, two routes

Before choosing a strategy, identify your case. If someone entered without any title (break-in or unlawful occupation), the route is criminal law and its fast-track trial. If it is a tenant who stopped paying and refuses to leave — the so-called "inquiokupa" — that is not criminal squatting: it follows the civil eviction route for non-payment, with longer timelines. Investors distinguish between the two and price their discount accordingly.

The three real exits

1. Recover possession, then sell on the open market

The route that maximises price: once the home is free, you sell it like any other, without a discount. Under the 2025 law the path is shorter than ever, above all when the occupation is recent and reported. Then the usual rules apply: here is how to sell fast in Alicante without underselling.

2. Sell it occupied to an investor

If you cannot wait, there are investors who buy the property with the occupant inside and take on the recovery themselves. In exchange they ask for a discount of between 20% and 40% of market value, depending on the type of occupation, the court stage and the home's expected condition. You get paid within weeks, no viewings, no procedure of your own. It makes sense when certainty and speed matter more than price.

3. Wait out the express eviction, then sell

The middle path: you start (or continue) the procedure with a lawyer, keep the property insured and plan the sale for the day after recovery. It takes patience and some legal spend, but preserves almost all the value.

What the buyer (and the notary) will require

In a sale with an occupant nothing can be hidden: the possession status must be disclosed to the buyer and recorded in the deed before the notary. The buyer will check the land-registry extract, ask for the court paperwork if proceedings exist and adjust the offer to what they see. Concealing the occupation is the worst possible strategy: the buyer will find out and can claim against you. With a professional investor the process is quick: they do this for a living.

Market price vs occupied price: run the full numbers

Choosing between the three routes is, in the end, a subtraction. On one side, the open-market price minus months of waiting, legal costs and the bills you keep paying (IBI, community fees, insurance). On the other, the discounted price collected within weeks. Work out the real net figure for each scenario — taxes and selling costs included — with our selling costs and taxes calculator, and decide with numbers rather than anxiety.

Mistakes that cost dearly

  • Cutting off water or electricity, or changing the lock yourself. It can amount to a criminal offence of coercion and put you on the wrong side of the procedure.
  • Negotiating a departure without a written agreement. Paying "so they leave" with nothing signed can lead to more demands, not fewer.
  • Letting the first 48 hours pass. While the break-in is flagrant, immediate police response is the fastest removal. Report it at once.
  • Underselling out of panic. A 40% discount is only justified in the most entrenched cases; compare the three routes before signing anything.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to sell a property with squatters inside?

Yes. The home is transferred with its possession status, which must be disclosed to the buyer and recorded before the notary. The buyer — usually an investor — takes on the recovery, and the price is adjusted accordingly.

How big is the discount when selling a squatted property?

Investors typically offer between 20% and 40% below market value, depending on the type of occupation, the stage of the court procedure and the expected condition of the property.

How long does an eviction take in Alicante now?

Since 3 April 2025, under Organic Law 1/2025, break-ins and unlawful occupation go through the fast-track system: the hearing and, where applicable, the eviction order can arrive in around 15 days. A non-paying tenant follows the slower civil route.

Can I cut off the water or electricity to force them out?

No. Cutting off utilities or changing the lock yourself can amount to a criminal offence of coercion and turn against you. The correct route is to report it and use the fast-track trial; and never negotiate a departure without a written agreement.

General guidance, not legal advice: every occupation case has nuances worth reviewing with a lawyer. If you own a squatted property in Alicante or Benidorm and want to know which route pays, tell us about it and we will give you the numbers: free valuation, whatever the state of the home.