Roquetas de Mar judge investigates utility cuts to elderly woman

A judge in Roquetas de Mar, Almería, has opened an investigation into a potential crime of coercion after a new property owner cut off electricity and water to an 88-year-old woman. The woman had lost her home due to mortgage defaults and was awaiting a judicial eviction process.

The new owner, who acquired the property at auction, requested the utility companies to interrupt services in August during a period of extreme heat, rather than waiting for the court to execute the legal eviction. The woman, who lived alone, had to temporarily move in with her daughter. A judge has since ordered the restoration of these essential services.

Judge Claudio García Vidales warned that some property owners are misinterpreting a recent Supreme Court ruling (Sentence 426/2026) regarding utility cuts in possession disputes. The judge noted that owners are incorrectly equating individuals facing foreclosure or eviction with illegal squatters, leading to unlawful harassment and coercion.