Insurance against squatters and the “monitoring centre requirement”

• In most policies a monitoring centre subscription is not a requirement for cover against squatters.
• What insurers often do ask for: a reliable alarm system as prevention.
• Since April 2025 the police can act faster if you report within 48 hours. You do not need a monitoring centre for that.

Almost all major Spanish insurers offer optional cover against illegal occupation (ocupación ilegal): legal assistance, legal costs, repairs, sometimes temporary accommodation or loss of rent. Useful. But you rarely read in the terms: “you must have a monitoring centre subscription.”

What is often asked for is a reliable alarm system as prevention. A professional system with direct notifications on your phone fits that too, without a monthly contract for a call centre. The verbal “you need a monitoring centre” usually comes from the agent or alarm salesperson, often with a commercial interest.

Check the policy yourself, in writing: search for alarma, central receptora and ocupación ilegal, and ask whether a professional alarm with app notifications is sufficient.

Since April 2025 the Spanish Ley Orgánica 1/2025 noticeably speeds up eviction. With allanamiento de morada (unlawful entry into your own home, main or second residence) the police can in many cases act faster if you report within 48 hours.

The law says nothing about a monitoring centre: a direct report by the owner is sufficient. For the insurer, ending an occupation quickly is actually favourable: less damage and lower legal costs.

This is not legal advice for your specific case. For your situation: police, insurer and possibly a lawyer.

• Monitoring centre: in Spain a private monitoring centre often has to reach you first. If you miss the call, the chain stops. Explanation: Pitfall 3.
• Jamming: if the radio signal is jammed, the monitoring centre often hears nothing. See Pitfall 5.
• Calling yourself: with a push notification on your phone you see straight away that something is going on, and you call 112 or the police yourself, without an intermediary.

We do not connect a monitoring centre. Independent sources on monitoring centre claims: monitoring centre research.

1. Read the terms. Search the policy for alarm, monitoring centre (central receptora) and illegal occupation.
2. Ask for written confirmation. Does the insurer accept a professional alarm with direct notifications, without a monitoring centre subscription?
3. Watch out for exclusions. Some policies limit cover during long periods of vacancy. That has nothing to do with having a monitoring centre or not.
4. Report quickly in case of occupation. Police, a formal complaint, and the insurer the same day. Do not wait for a call centre that first has to find you.
5. Is a subscription-free system refused? Ask why, on paper. Switching to another insurer may be an option.

As a rule, a monitoring centre subscription is neither a legal requirement nor a policy requirement for cover against squatters. The 2025 law supports fast action on your own report. Choose an alarm system that reaches you directly, and that helps prevent burglary or occupation before anyone is inside. How a home visit with us works: how we work.