Precario

Precario (Spanish and Portuguese) refers to a legal arrangement where a person is granted temporary permission to use land or property owned by another, with the understanding that the owner can reclaim it at any time. This arrangement often lacks a formal lease or specific duration. The permission is typically granted out of goodwill or a temporary need, and the user, the 'precario' tenant, has no legally protected right to continued occupancy. This system is prevalent in regions with complex property ownership histories or where informal land use is common. The core feature is the revocable nature of the permission and the owner's absolute right to demand return of the property at will. In essence, it is a 'at will' tenancy agreement.

Precario meaning with examples

• The family lived on the land for generations, believing they had inherited it. However, the new owner claimed 'precario,' demanding their eviction immediately because the family had never legally owned the land or had a formal agreement. The family was heartbroken, as they had nowhere else to go, highlighting the vulnerability inherent in precario arrangements.
• After the hurricane, displaced residents were offered temporary shelter in abandoned buildings on a 'precario' basis, meaning they could occupy the spaces until the owners needed them back for renovations. The authorities made it clear that the arrangement was temporary, but the short-term solution was desperately needed.
• Squatters in the city occupied a vacant warehouse under 'precario,' claiming a right to the space due to neglect by the absent owner, making it an occupation, but the courts ultimately ruled against them, emphasizing the owner's legal rights, despite the complex social and housing crisis.
• A charity allowed a community garden to use a plot of land under 'precario', so the gardeners understood that the arrangement was temporary and could be terminated by the landowner with little notice. The group successfully grew produce for years, but knew their access was ultimately based on the owner's goodwill.
• Despite protests from current occupants, the investor purchased several properties and immediately utilized 'precario' to reclaim them. He stated that he planned to begin constructions, forcing tenants, some residing for decades, to relocate promptly, further increasing the precarity of their situations.