Problems with tenants - what are the options for landlords

I am new to the website and I'm interested to know if other members are aware of the legal remedies available to a landlord in Spain in a situation where a tenant is failing to pay rent and is also running up costs for electricity and other services.

The tenant moved in 4 months ago and paid the first two months to the letting agent but nothing has been received since. Promises have been made and broken but there does not appear to be any serious intention to pay and they are refusing to respond to either the landlord or the agent. I'm told it can take up to a year to get a defaulting tenant forcibly removed in Spain which seems a crazy length of time to me and any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also, given that electricity bills are being run up, is it possible to get this cut off or responsibility transferred. It seems bad enough to be deprived of your asset, the anticipated income in rent and then to be paying the defaulting tenants heating bills as well.

I look forward to any words of wisdom out there.

Regards 

Derek Barnett

Always tough when tenants don't pay. 

We literally just uploaded this article to the site:

Rules for Evicting Tenants in Spain

And this one may also be of interest.

Evicting Tenants in Spain - Changes in the Law

Best of luck.

Justin

Justin

Thanks, this is very useful information and I will speak to the lawyers to make sure they are using these new laws. I fear the tenants are well versed in stretching the legal process to its limits and will have done this before. 

I will post updates as the attempted eviction proceeds.

Best regards

Derek  

 It is a very tricky situation, a real pain!

What you can do next time is make sure you take out rental insurance, this will cost you 4% of the annual rent but it covers you if tenants dont pay and the eviction process and the damages to the property.

Joan