Six years after Sareb acquired a block of 41 homes in Fuenlabrada, residents report that no one has regularised their contracts and they live in legal limbo. “We feel like squatters in our own homes,” they lament.
A block of 41 homes in Fuenlabrada has been trapped in a Kafkaesque situation for six years since the Asset Management Company for Bank Restructuring (Sareb) became its owner. The residents, who have lived there for decades, claim they were never informed of the change in ownership and now live with the uncertainty of not knowing if they can continue in their homes.
The origin of the conflict: a bankruptcy without warning
It all began when the previous owner of the building went bankrupt and the property passed into the hands of the Sareb, the public company created to manage the toxic assets of the banking sector. Residents assert that no one officially notified them of the change in ownership. For a time, they continued paying rent to the former landlord, unaware that he was no longer the owner.
“Zero information because they didn’t want to renew our contracts,” explains Agustín, a resident who has lived in the block for 17 years. When they finally discovered the new situation, the contracts signed with the previous owner had lost all validity. This marked the beginning of a long period of “constant uncertainty,” according to those affected.
Frustrated attempts at regularisation
The residents claim they have repeatedly tried to formalise new contracts with Sareb to continue paying rent legally. “We wanted to pay,” they insist. However, they have faced a lack of response from the entity, which has neither regularised their situation nor offered a solution.
“We feel like squatters in our own homes,” summarises one of the affected individuals, who prefers to remain anonymous. The protest has united a significant portion of the building, which also has the support of neighbours from the area. During the organised gatherings, they chant slogans like “Sareb, listen, this block is in struggle.” The message is clear: they are not asking for new homes, but for the right to continue living legally in the houses they have occupied for years.
A problem affecting dozens of families
The Fuenlabrada block is not an isolated case. Sareb manages thousands of homes across Spain, many of which are occupied by tenants who have found themselves in legal limbo following the bankruptcy of the original developers. In the Community of Madrid, this situation is repeated in several municipalities, although Fuenlabrada is one of the most visible due to the residents' mobilisation.
The residents complain that, in addition to the lack of contracts, the building has suffered a progressive deterioration due to the lack of necessary repairs. “Sareb does not invest anything in maintenance,” they assert. This has led to issues with damp, breakdowns in communal facilities, and a sense of abandonment that adds to the legal uncertainty.
From Sareb, consulted by this newspaper, they have declined to comment on the specific case. Sources from the entity refer to their policy of “active management of the housing stock” and assure that they are working to regularise the situation of the tenants, although without specifying timelines.
Community mobilisation and support from the City Council
The residents' struggle has transcended the confines of the block. The City Council of Fuenlabrada has sided with them and urged Sareb to seek a solution. “We cannot allow dozens of families to live in this situation of legal insecurity,” a municipal spokesperson has stated. The Council has offered its mediation to try to unlock the conflict.
Meanwhile, the residents continue their weekly gatherings at the building's entrance. “We are not going to give up,” they assert. The next meeting will be next Saturday at 12:00, on the street where the block is located. They invite all citizens to join in to raise awareness of their situation.
For those living in the building, the solution lies in Sareb offering them social rental contracts or, alternatively, the possibility of purchasing the homes at an affordable price. “We have spent half our lives here, this is our home. We only ask to be treated as tenants, not as squatters,” concludes Agustín.
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