Art. 202.1 CP
Breaking-and-entering
Entering or remaining in another’s dwelling against their will: prison.
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Squatting · Property · Alicante
Squatting (okupas) lawyer in Alicante
Occupation of a property on the Costa Blanca: between usurpation and breaking-and-entering, a fast track exists.
Illegal occupation of a home or property in Alicante and on the Costa Blanca: Articles 202 and 245 of the Spanish Criminal Code distinguish breaking-and-entering from usurpation. For owner or accused, the qualification governs the procedure and the eviction timeline.
In brief. illegal occupation falls under two offences: breaking-and-entering a dwelling (Art. 202), where the property is someone’s actual home, punishable by prison; and usurpation (Art. 245), for a property that is not a dwelling, punishable by a fine, or prison where violence is used. Fast civil and criminal eviction routes exist. The exact qualification is decisive, in Alicante.
Key facts
202
Breaking-and-entering: entering or remaining in another’s dwelling.
245
Usurpation: occupying a property that is not a dwelling.
24h
English-speaking lawyer in Alicante, for owner and accused alike.
Dwelling or property?
Not everything is “okupación”. Breaking-and-entering (Art. 202) targets a person’s actual living space and is punished by prison; usurpation (Art. 245) concerns a property that is not a dwelling and is punished, in principle, by a fine.
Violence changes the penalty. Usurpation committed with violence or intimidation of persons (Art. 245.1) is far more severely punished than the peaceful occupation of an empty premises.
Fast eviction routes exist. Beyond the criminal side, the law offers owners fast-track civil proceedings to recover possession, to be combined with the criminal complaint.
What we handle
Occupation and defence
Art. 202.2 CP
With violence
Breaking-and-entering with violence or intimidation: aggravated penalty.
Art. 245.1 CP
Usurpation with violence
Occupying a property with violence or intimidation: one to two years.
Art. 245.2 CP
Peaceful usurpation
Occupying an unoccupied property without authorisation: fine.
Art. 204 CP
Entry by a public officer
Breaking-and-entering by an authority outside legal cases.
Law 5/2018
Express eviction
Fast-track civil procedure to recover possession.
Art. 13 LECrim
Interim measure
Provisional return of the home to the owner during the investigation.
Art. 255 CP
Utility fraud
Illegal water or electricity connections tied to the occupation.
Defence
State of necessity
Extreme vulnerability: a circumstance for the court to assess.
Penalty framework
Indicative overview
| Situation | Article | Penalty framework | Key point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breaking-and-entering | 202.1 | 6 months – 2 years | Actual dwelling |
| Entering with violence | 202.2 | 1 – 4 years | Violence or intimidation |
| Usurpation with violence | 245.1 | 1 – 2 years | Violence against persons |
| Peaceful usurpation | 245.2 | Fine (3 – 6 months) | Non-dwelling property |
| Express eviction | Law 5/2018 | Fast civil procedure | Recovery of possession |
| Interim measure | Art. 13 LECrim | Provisional return | During the investigation |
| Utility fraud | 255 | Fine or prison | Illegal connections |
| State of necessity | 20.5 | Possible mitigation | Extreme vulnerability |
Indicative figures based on the Spanish Criminal Code. Qualification and penalty depend on the nature of the property and the circumstances. This table does not replace a lawyer’s analysis.
Our difference
Dwelling or empty premises: the qualification sets the speed
We act on both fronts. For the owner, combining a criminal complaint with civil eviction proceedings speeds up recovery; for the accused, the exact qualification and personal circumstances are decisive.
Every day counts in Alicante. Immediate action, with a request for an interim return measure, often allows the property to be recovered without waiting for the outcome of the trial.
01
Exact qualification: breaking-and-entering or usurpation
02
Combining the criminal complaint with civil eviction
03
Requesting provisional return of the home
04
Defence of the accused’s personal situation
How we act
A structured defence at every stage
Phase 01
Recording the occupation and complaint
Phase 02
Request for an interim measure
Phase 03
Investigation and eviction proceedings
Phase 04
Trial in Alicante and recovery of the property
Who we represent
In Alicante and around
P
Owners
Owners and landlords seeking to recover their property quickly.
I
Foreign investors
Non-resident owners of an occupied home on the Costa Blanca.
D
People under investigation
Occupants prosecuted for usurpation or breaking-and-entering.
C
Communities
Owner communities facing occupation of common premises.
Related
Related pages
FAQ
What you should know
Difference between okupación and breaking-and-entering?
Breaking-and-entering (Art. 202) targets someone’s actual dwelling and is punished by prison; usurpation (Art. 245) concerns a non-dwelling property, punished by a fine.
Can occupants be evicted quickly?
Yes. A fast-track civil procedure (Law 5/2018) and a possible interim criminal measure allow quick recovery of possession.
Is occupying an empty property an offence?
If the property is not a dwelling, it is usurpation (fine); if it is a home, the penalty is prison.
Is a state of necessity taken into account?
Extreme vulnerability may be assessed by the court, without legitimising the occupation of a dwelling.
Are illegal connections punished?
Yes, they may constitute utility fraud, prosecuted in addition to the occupation.
What to do on discovering the occupation?
Act fast: recording, complaint and request for return. The firm acts 24/7 in Alicante and on the Costa Blanca.
Speak to a criminal lawyer
In a fast-track case, the days you have are the case.
Criminal defence in English before the courts of Alicante and the rest of Spain, for residents and for visitors who have flown home.
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