Mid-Costa del Sol residential golf resort empty properties invite squatting.
Credit: Concerned resident
Peaceful mornings on the fairways of one of the Costa del Sol’s most celebrated golf resorts are being shattered by more than just wayward drives. Residents of this exclusive hillside community in the middle of the Costa del Sol hills are battling two squatter occupations on empty investment-fund properties – one involving open fires and escaped dogs at the main entrance, the other suspected of irregular utility hook-ups and possible illicit activity just behind the course.
X, a long-time resident who lives in the development, has written to the Euro Weekly News outlining what he describes as “two separate but interconnected issues” that are damaging safety, property values and the entire image of the resort.
“Serious fire hazard” at the entrance
The first problem sits right at the entrance to the community, beside the golf driving range. A property, owned by an investment fund, has been occupied without permission. Squatters are living without proper electricity or water connections and have been regularly lighting fires inside the building for heating and cooking. Development of the site halted, half-finished, during the economic crisis and has yet to resume. This left the unfinished houses open to exploitation from less than legal or safe use.
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“Residents have observed fires lit inside the property,” X explained. “This represents a serious fire hazard, particularly given the proximity to other homes and the golf practice area.”
Compounding the danger are several large dogs kept on the site. They have repeatedly escaped and wandered onto the driving range, creating what X calls “a clear and immediate safety risk for golfers, residents and anyone using the practice facilities.”
Suspected trafficking behind the course
View of squats from the Mijas Road.
Credit: Concerned resident
Even more alarming for real residents is the situation at Calle Miguel Ángel Jiménez, number 14 within the resort – a cul-de-sac directly behind the golf course. This second investment-fund property began to be occupied around 18 months ago and shows few signs of precarious living. Children can no longer play in the street near this house because of the constant flow of cars at any time of day or night. Vehicles regularly drive down the street, stop outside the property for a couple of minutes, and then leave. This pattern of activity has created a strong sense of insecurity among neighbours.
Occupants have connected themselves connected the water supply (with residents fearing they are subsidising the cost) and appear to have obtained electricity and Internet through what many “strongly suspect” are irregular or fraudulent means. There is a constant flow of vehicles arriving and leaving at unusual hours, along with frequent rowdy gatherings.
“Many residents strongly believe that some form of suspect activity maybe taking place,” X said. Those concerns have already been conveyed to police. As the property sits in a dead-end street, the activity is highly visible to surrounding homes, heightening the sense of insecurity. Under Spanish law, only the legal owner can initiate eviction proceedings, and so far the investment fund has taken no visible action.
The contrast between the apparent lifestyle at the property (including high-value vehicles) and the frustration of law-abiding residents paying their bills is palpable. “We are all feeling increasingly uneasy and worried. The individuals involved are known locally and have a history of inappropriate and aggressive behaviour, which adds to the concern.”
Broader Costa del Sol context
The complaints come as Andalucia, including Malaga province, has overtaken Catalonia as Spain’s leading region for squatting cases. Official figures show more than 2,800 active files in the region by January, with Malaga repeatedly highlighted as a “critical” area.
The 2025 national “anti-okupa” law introduced fast-track evictions (sometimes within 48 hours if caught early, or 15-day hearings), stronger police powers and limits on vulnerability delays. While these reforms have helped in many parts of the Costa del Sol, including Marbella, Estepona and Fuengirola, they still require the property owner to act. When owners are distant investment funds that fail to respond promptly, residents say the new legislation offers little immediate relief.
X has invited anyone with doubts to contact the neighbours’ association directly and says the community is united in seeking urgent solutions, whether through pressure on the investment funds, local authorities, or the golf resort management.
For now, the once-tranquil views over the fairways are overshadowed by smoke from illegal fires, the rumble of suspicious traffic, and the constant thwack of golf balls hitting home.
Residents hope their voices will finally prompt action before a serious incident occurs
If you are affected by similar issues or have information on these cases or other similar ones, contact the Euro Weekly in the comments below. Does your area suffer a similar issue? Or has it in the past? Were you ever successful in evicting squatters? Let us know.