Madrid's eviction boom fuels rise of shadowy “desokupación” firms

Across Madrid’s districts—including Vallecas, Usera, Tetuán and Carabanchel—court-ordered evictions are averaging six per day, according to the General Council of the Judiciary. The Platform for People Affected by Mortgages says three families in Vallecas were expelled in just one month, highlighting a broader surge in “desokupación” services that combine intimidation with negotiation. Firms such as D&A, which is not listed in the official companies register, and the well-known Desokupa, charge tenants €2,000-€4,000 to vacate properties, often employing tactics like glue on locks, electricity cuts and “access control” patrols.

Tenants like Ghita Hachemi recount daily threats and psychological pressure after a new owner bought their flat for €73,000 and hired a desokupación firm. Company representatives, including Juan Carlos González of Horus Desokupa, argue their methods are legal and merely mediate disputes, though police have arrested members of APD Security Iberia for impersonating officers and brandishing weapons. The Spanish Interior Ministry does not keep a registry of these operators, allowing the sector to expand unchecked in Madrid and other regions such as Catalonia and Andalusia.