You mean that if I have a place and leave it empty for any reason, then it can be squatted, and this is perfectly legal?
If yes, this is unbelievable and insane, yes.
If yes, this is unbelievable and insane, yes.
Such difference exists for a reason, as a balance against an absolute power of owners which drives the number of homeless people up as we can see in certain areas. Take for example the netherlands. It was very common and well regarded to squat for a while, and the homeless population was very low. Now that squatting has been outlawed, both homeless and empty dwellings have gone up. There was some public study on the topic a while back: https://en.squat.net/2016/05/27/netherlands-housing-crisis/
Leaving your primary home empty because you visited a grocery store is not the same as leaving your 2nd (physically unnecessary) home empty except for 4 weeks a summer.
Housing should be a right.
Hoarding it should be criminal.