Summary
Highlights
Anchela Mendoza leads a private eviction firm called 'Arma des Okupa' in Granada, Spain. For five years, she's been professionally removing squatters. Her team, which she calls 'Chicos,' prefers to remain anonymous due to the controversial nature of their work. They are preparing for a major operation to evict squatters from three houses in southern Spain, including families with children and individuals involved in criminal activities.
Over the past decade, private companies specializing in evicting squatters have grown in Spain, especially during the pandemic. Property owners often hire them because the legal system is perceived as too slow. While some firms have faced controversy for illegal activities, Anchela emphasizes her firm acts as mediators. The increase in squatting is partly attributed to the lack of affordable housing, with rents in cities like Granada skyrocketing by 75% in 11 years.
Clara Martinez, an activist, fights for affordable housing after being evicted herself. She highlights the paradox of empty buildings in Spain, where 14% of properties were vacant in 2021. Many owners keep properties off the market due to fear of squatters and to drive up prices. The Spanish constitution guarantees both the right to private property and the right to housing, creating conflict. Clara advocates for squatting as a last resort for those in need, arguing it's more dignified than living on the streets.
Paloma Navaro, a long-term resident, faces eviction from her childhood home, which her landlord plans to convert into holiday rentals. Despite continuing to pay rent, the owner returned her payments, leading to a lawsuit. Rabia, a single mother, has been squatting in an empty apartment for four years. The alleged owner has tried to evict her, including cutting off her water. Rabia and her children now rely on friends for shelter.
Anchela's team arrives in Almuñécar for three evictions. They use code names as a precaution. The first target is a house occupied by an alleged criminal. Depois, eles abordam casas com famílias. A vigilância por câmera complica a comunicação. After a tense standoff, one squatter agrees to leave after negotiating, stating he had lived there for 11 years rent-free. Another family, spanning two houses, also signs an agreement to vacate, despite legal ambiguities regarding their eviction.
Rabia returns to her apartment in Granada to find it illegally occupied by other individuals, allegedly arranged by the owner. Clara arrives to support Rabia, calling the police. The situation escalates with confrontation between Rabia, Clara, and relatives of the property owner's new occupants. The police recommend Rabia file a formal complaint and do not engage in self-justice. Rabia later files a complaint, and activists demonstrate for the restoration of her water supply.
Anchela meets with property owner Enrique Frigola, whose apartments she recently cleared. One apartment was in deplorable condition. Anchela differentiates between squatters who refuse to pay rent and those in genuine need. She successfully mediates a situation for a Moroccan family who were scammed into paying rent to a non-owner. Enrique, the owner, agrees to make them official tenants, acknowledging the difficulties of the legal system, which can take over a decade for evictions.