Couple convicted for squatting a property in Mairena del Aljarafe and falsifying a contract

The Seville Court imposes a year in prison on two individuals for illegally occupying a house since 2022 and simulating a rental with a forged signature. They avoid jail but must vacate in a month.

The Provincial Court of Seville has handed down a one-year prison sentence to a couple accused of illegally occupying a property in Mairena del Aljarafe since July 2022 and presenting a rental contract with the owner's forged signature. The ruling, which was made public this Tuesday, is the result of an agreement between the parties during the trial, allowing the convicted individuals to avoid prison time, although they are required to refrain from committing new crimes for two years and to vacate the property within a maximum of one month.

The events date back to the summer of 2022, when the couple accessed the property, located in a residential area of Mairena del Aljarafe, taking advantage of the owner's absence due to work commitments. According to the investigation, the accused forced the lock and changed it to prevent the owner from entering. Once inside, they installed their belongings and began living there permanently. The owner, upon returning and finding the situation, reported the matter to the Civil Guard, which initiated inquiries.

During the investigation, agents discovered that the couple had created a false rental contract, which stated a supposed lease signed by the owner. However, a handwriting analysis proved that the signature did not match that of the property owner. Additionally, the accused had paid utility bills in the owner's name, reinforcing the argument that they acted with full awareness of the illegality.

The court has deemed that the actions constitute a crime of home invasion and another of document forgery, punishable by sentences totaling one year in prison. In the agreement reached, the couple has acknowledged the facts and committed to vacating the property in a month, as well as compensating the owner with €3,000 for the damages caused. The defence of the convicted has pointed out that this is a person with economic difficulties, but the judge reminded that illegal occupation is not justified by necessity.

This case adds to other similar ones in the province of Seville, where courts have tightened penalties for squatters who use false documents to legitimise their stay. In 2025, the Seville Court already sentenced another occupant to two years in prison for a similar crime in Dos Hermanas. The difference in this case is that the couple has avoided jail thanks to the agreement, but the ruling establishes that if they reoffend in the next two years, they will have to serve the sentence effectively.

The owner, who preferred not to comment publicly, has expressed satisfaction with the resolution, although she lamented the time elapsed since the occupation. Meanwhile, the couple must vacate the property by 31 July 2026, according to the deadline set by the court. The ruling is not final and can be appealed to the Superior Court of Justice of Andalusia.