Squatters and UK law

dekez · 26 Oct 2010 at 19:40

Just been reading advice on how to deal with them here: http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/squatters.htm
This really just grinds my gears to think I could go on holiday and find someone had moved into my house and there was nothing that could be done about it for a few weeks. All that time and effort this guy is going to have to put in, and what about the students it's all just a game to them, they don't lose anything out of any of this. Fair enough if it's some development project that has been left for dead but this is crazy.
:mad:

KNiVES · 26 Oct 2010 at 19:41

I'd gather all my friends up and force them out. Come on, it's your house, it's hardly keyboard-warrior to resort to violence. Even the most timid person would feel hard pressed to try something.

In the USA, I'd gladly shoot them.

dekez · 26 Oct 2010 at 19:44

Sem said:
The thing that really takes the **** is the picture of them looking out the window looking all smug and laughing

normally im not bothered by things like this but for some reason this story and has really gotten to me

how can the law allow this

god knows what the dogs and people are doing to this man's belongings and he is powerless to stop them

Yeah I think this is what has really done it for me, what absolute selfish, worthless, immoral plebs they are, " oh I can't afford rent" - maybe you should have though about that before signing up to university in an expensive city. AAARRRRRGGGGG!!!!!111 :mad:

and relax.

kaiowas · 26 Oct 2010 at 19:45

There are two conflicting sides to this story, one where the owner is claiming he was part way through decorating and only left the house for a week, and the other where the squatters are claiming the house has been empty for 2 years and was in a condition which suggested as much.

Interesting how everyone is assuming that it's the squatters who are lying despite the article offering zero evidence to backup the claims of either party.

robgmun · 26 Oct 2010 at 19:49

I frankly quite shocked that we're in 2010 and Squattering isn't a criminal offense. And should be made so as quickly as possible

doofer · 26 Oct 2010 at 19:50

Strange there's no sink in the kitchen, removing a kitchen sink is a way of ensuring Councils see a property as legally Vacant, almost always done when properties are vacant for long periods as it's a Council Tax loophole for Landlords.

vti_786 · 26 Oct 2010 at 19:52

this is ridiculous, really angers me, what a farce this ruling is.

the arrogance of the squatters makes it worse, smiling for the camera :mad:

dekez · 26 Oct 2010 at 19:52

kaiowas said:
There are two conflicting sides to this story, one where the owner is claiming he was part way through decorating and only left the house for a week, and the other where the squatters are claiming the house has been empty for 2 years and was in a condition which suggested as much.

Interesting how everyone is assuming that it's the squatters who are lying despite the article offering zero evidence to backup the claims of either party.

Well it is the mail after all :rolleyes:

granted I've got really annoyed with little evidence, but the fact that the situation portrayed by the mail is even possible is enough to be frustrated by.

badcompany · 26 Oct 2010 at 19:52

This also annoys me greatly ! I would imagine if it was the local chief inspectors house that the squatters moved into I would suggest that this law would no longer be a problem of removing them !

Me I would round the boys up and go to town on them

oli356 · 26 Oct 2010 at 19:52

Should be able to go in and take their lives!

ak22 · 26 Oct 2010 at 19:53

Damm Present surely this is classes as trespassing?

AJK · 26 Oct 2010 at 19:54

- Insure house
- Bolt doors and windows from outside
- Burn house to ground
- Problem solved?

platinum87 · 26 Oct 2010 at 20:00

int said:
I don't have any problem with people occupying uninhabited premises as long as they treat it with respect and leave when asked by the owners. .

You dont have any problems with vermin occupying properties to which they do not have permission in advance. :confused:

Dunks · 26 Oct 2010 at 20:11

kaiowas said:
There are two conflicting sides to this story, one where the owner is claiming he was part way through decorating and only left the house for a week, and the other where the squatters are claiming the house has been empty for 2 years and was in a condition which suggested as much.

Interesting how everyone is assuming that it's the squatters who are lying despite the article offering zero evidence to backup the claims of either party.

One week or two years, they shouldn't have the right to break in, change the locks and squat.

vti_786 · 26 Oct 2010 at 20:14

Dunks said:
One week or two years, they shouldn't have the right to break in, change the locks and squat.

+1

Narj · 26 Oct 2010 at 20:18

I don't understand why you can't break into your own property when they've changed the locks? If you march there armed with a copy of the land registry documents, what stops you?

I know I'd be heading there with a bunch of heavies if it were me.

platinum87 · 26 Oct 2010 at 20:30

kaiowas said:
Interesting how everyone is assuming that it's the squatters who are lying despite the article offering zero evidence to backup the claims of either party.

The guy owns the house, everything else is irrelevent. It doesnt matter who is lying, it doesnt matter if the guy bought the house and hasnt set foot in it for 20 years. And it doesnt matter if the squatters were in the house for 5minutes or 20 years.

lewism · 26 Oct 2010 at 20:54

kaiowas said:
There are two conflicting sides to this story, one where the owner is claiming he was part way through decorating and only left the house for a week, and the other where the squatters are claiming the house has been empty for 2 years and was in a condition which suggested as much.

Interesting how everyone is assuming that it's the squatters who are lying despite the article offering zero evidence to backup the claims of either party.

My name on the deeds, my bloody property.

I don't see why the owners just don't walk down to the local "hard" pub, whack £1000 on the table and offer it to the first person who gets the squatters out of the house. They would be out of that house as quick as a flash and I would put money on it that funnily enough no one saw a thing.

int · 26 Oct 2010 at 21:03

platinum87 said:
You dont have any problems with vermin occupying properties to which they do not have permission in advance.

If it's uninhabited and unlocked, then what's the problem? It's an empty shell of a house, no items in the house. They're either homeless or in a house that wasn't being used, I think I'd prefer them off the street...

JRJ · 26 Oct 2010 at 21:26

This is covered under the criminal law act amended for this purpose in 1997, under this act the owner becomes a "displaced residental occupier" and should a request to leave by the DRO be ignored then all persons on the premises comment an offence which is arrestable without warrant.
Also this act covers the use of force to gain entry to a property by a DRO or any person acting on behalf of a DRO.

simples