Briton dies weeks before eviction would have returned his Spanish home

An 84-year-old British man has died of cancer weeks before an eviction order would have allowed him to reclaim his three-bedroom home in Mijas, on Spain’s Costa del Sol, after years of legal battles with squatters who occupied the property. Kenneth Jobe’s family confirmed the death to a Spanish newspaper, saying the long struggle robbed him of the chance to move into the retirement home he had saved for throughout his life. Jobe had spent years attempting to evict the occupiers and recover the home he hoped would be his dream retirement refuge. He had faced losses estimated at more than €50,000 in rent, draining resources he had set aside for the future.

The family told the Spanish Eye that Jobe’s health deteriorated after a summer diagnosis of cancer that spread to his liver, and he died within weeks of hearing that the eviction would proceed only in his absence. The relief of reclaiming the property came too late for him, the family said, and they expressed anger over what they described as a slow and unforgiving legal process that delayed justice for an elderly expatriate.

The squatters vacated the residence just before local authorities were scheduled to carry out the court-ordered eviction last Thursday. A son of Jobe told the publication that, with the authorities en route, police proximity, and the Guardia Civil on standby, the occupants left before anyone could act. “They got evicted, the court authorities went down there and the Guardia Civil was on the way, but once they entered they realised they had already gone. We’ve got the property back, but after all this time and with no rent paid, it’s absolutely disgusting,” the son said.

The family has said the move marked a bittersweet conclusion to a battle that had stretched over years. They described the squatters as having delayed eviction by claiming they were vulnerable, a tactic that, according to the family, the courts rejected in September. The son increased the sense of frustration, saying, “It’s disgusting, my dad got diagnosed with cancer… and he can’t even go to his own house in Spain. It’s breathtaking, it literally takes your breath away at how these people can do this, my dad just wants to live out there.”

The son also criticized the legal system, arguing that the process favors Spanish residents and slows for expatriates. “The system is broken, especially for expats, if you’re Spanish it moves along a lot quicker,” he said. The family indicated they plan to renovate the home and eventually sell it, hoping to put behind them the memories of years of delay and distress.

Observers note that property disputes involving expatriates can hinge on lengthy court procedures and variable enforcement across jurisdictions. In the meantime, the family’s decision to reclaim the property underscores the complexity of protecting foreign-owned homes when squatters gain a foothold. For Britons planning to leave property unattended in Spain, security experts advise installing high-quality cameras and an alarm system, and ensuring that any break-ins are promptly detected by authorities. If CCTV footage shows intruders entering the home and the alarm promptly notifies police, the eviction case is strengthened and can proceed more quickly when authorities respond.

The case highlights broader concerns about eviction timelines and protections for expatriates who rely on Spain’s legal system to secure properties they have purchased and long fought to own. While the late Kenneth Jobe did not live to see the house back in his hands, his family’s experience has reinforced calls for clearer, faster avenues to reclaim homes after long periods of occupation and the importance of prudent security measures for owners abroad.