DESOKUPAS

In response to government inaction with squatting, paid services have emerged that “evict” squatters for property owners. These desokupas intimidate the okupas and camp out the squatted residences. Desokupas use what they call “access-control” which involves camping out the squatted location to prevent the return of the okupas one they leave to shop to the property.

The desokupas will also negotiate with the squatters to force them to leave this can involve cash or relocations and access to social services. Today desokupas are very controversial figures, respected by many for solving their property issues while others see them as trespassers illegally evicting people, using force and intimidation.

Although several complaints have been filed against desokupas, none been charged with any crimes. In May 2019, the main company, Desokupacion Legal, managed 30 operations a week. 58 The founder, Daniel Esteve, recommends not reporting the squatting instance to the police since then they cannot reenter the house, otherwise they will have to work in parallel with the court. Daniel Esteve claims ninety percent of cases end in success before one week. Daniel claims that for “a family with children, a pregnant woman or simply people that we know to occupy by necessity, we negotiate with them or relocate them”59, instead of preventing them from reentry. Their continued activity can be tracked on social media where they advertise how quickly they manage to evict the Okupas, helps those in need and provide relief to property owners. Despite these claims of good will the forty employees receive frequent death threats evidence of those can be seen on graffiti near squatted locations. In response to criticism Daniel responded with “we are only a company that offers a public service that is not covered by justice effectively”60 lbid. lbid. lbid. lbid.

[58] Pareja Custodio, “Desokupa, entre la polémica y el servicio público: 3.000 euros por desalojar una casa en un par de días”, Idealista, May 29, 2018.