"Every time I see him, my heart races", declared the woman, who since June 2024 has been living at a relative's house and remains under psychological treatment.
Estíbaliz rented a room to an immigrant out of solidarity, but she ended up leaving her home after being harassed
"Every time I see him, my heart races", declared the woman, who since June 2024 has been living at a relative's house and remains under psychological treatment.
In Basauri, Basque Country, a woman was forced to leave her home after renting a room to a Maghrebi immigrant who, as the months went by, stopped paying rent, damaged the property, and created a situation of harassment and insecurity.
The story raises questions about the limits of individual solidarity and the effectiveness of the current legal framework in the face of illegal occupation of homes.
Estíbaliz Kortazar Errecatxo, an administrative worker who purchased her apartment in 2021 after more than 20 years of work, decided at the end of 2023 to rent out a room. She did so through an association that helps homeless people, with which she collaborated as a volunteer.
Both parties signed a rental contract for 350 euros per month and, at first, cohabitation proceeded without incident. However, as the weeks went by, the tenant adopted a hostile and inappropriate attitude: he hurled insults, made sexual innuendos, watched pornographic content in her presence, and displayed markedly disrespectful behavior.
According to the testimony of Estíbaliz, the man insulted her with expressions such as "whore" and "dirty bitch", kept the television volume high during the night, left the lights on constantly, and completely neglected the hygiene of his room.
The lease expired in January 2025, and the tenant has stopped paying rent and continues living there, effectively becoming a squatter. Added to this is the deterioration of the property, the accumulation of garbage, and the occupant's refusal to leave the home.
In the absence of solutions, Estíbaliz contacted an acquaintance of the same origin as the squatter, hoping to mediate the situation. The meeting ended in a physical assault: the tenant bit the visitor's face, who had to be hospitalized with ten stitches.
The woman reported the case to the police on January 1, 2025, but the officers informed her they couldn't intervene without a court eviction order. Since then, she continues to cover the expenses for utilities, including an electricity bill of more than 200 euros per month, without receiving any compensation.
The case reflects the structural problems of a legal system that, under the pretext of protecting vulnerable people, sometimes leaves law-abiding property owners defenseless.