Squatters

Daily mail...

I don't see anything wrong with squatting as long as they respect the property, leave everything as they found it and leave when asked/the owner returns. After all, if it's an empty property then why shouldn't someone make use of it?
 
Superewza said:
Daily mail...

I don't see anything wrong with squatting as long as they respect the property, leave everything as they found it and leave when asked/the owner returns. After all, if it's an empty property then why shouldn't someone make use of it?
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The source is irrelevant, its the article and the laws relating to it that I am commenting on , not where the article is held.

Well in an ideal world that might be ok, but usually the squatters dont leave when asked/when the owner returns and quite often they "trash" the home whilst there. When is a property empty though? My wife and I both go to work and our children are at school, so during the day the house is empty, does that mean its ok for someone to break into it and live there? Where do we draw the line, is it ok if I come round your house and take your car and drive it around when you arent using it? After all, its empty so why shouldnt someone make use of it?
 
He owns the deeds to the house, i've never understood how this is allowed?

I'd just smash the door in and kick them out.
 
Superewza said:
After all, if it's an empty property then why shouldn't someone make use of it?
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Because that's somebodies home you're talking about. Would you want some random people moving into your house when you're off for work in the morning? And then using the law to prevent you from returning to your home and kicking them out of your house?

I might be convinced to agree with you if you were talking about abandoned and derelict houses, but not a building where someone actively lives (off for a holiday or not).

+1 for the Daily Fail though, wouldn't surprise me if there was more to the story. Somehow.
 
Andr3w said:
If they are in your house without your permission then they are trespassing surely?
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Yes, but as was said in another thread, trespassing is a civil offence rather than a criminal one.

If I was in this situation I would be removing them by force. If he has legal proof that the house is his, I can't understand why the law would side with the squatters.
 
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Tombstone said:
I find it absolutely mind boggling that this kind of thing is allowed, actually makes me a little paranoid that if I take my family away on a 2 week holiday that I will come home and find I havent got a home anymore.
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They can't squat a house that's currently occupied - if you get back from a 2 week holiday and someone has broken into your main residence you're well within your rights to call the police or kick them out yourself.

Most of these cases in the papers come from cases where a house has been left empty for some time. In this case it is rather sad that someone was in the middle of renovating the place.

I understand that if that happens you can't force your way back in or break anything (despite owning the property) but if you can somehow gain access to the property without using force then you can attempt to evict them. There is also nothing stopping re-taking possession if the squatters happen to be out at the time (though tis unlikely). Otherwise its unfortunately a case of waiting for a court order and getting bailiffs round.
 
dowie said:
They can't squat a house that's currently occupied - if you get back from a 2 week holiday and someone has broken into your main residence you're well within your rights to call the police or kick them out yourself.
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Who pays for any damages done to the home in that time? Or for the bills for services (water, electric, phone etc) used during that period?
 
bitslice said:
You just move in yourself, you've the right to enter your own property, then just be as annoying as possible until they leave.
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I may be wrong here but I think the squatters block the doors etc without damaging them -- therefore the bloke cant get in without damaging the SQUATTERS property, which would be illegal (similar to it being illegal to damage a wheel clamp -- and the wheel clamper not technically damaging your car ...).

He can turn off the leccy and water though. And if the squatters ever leave the property unoccupied - storm in there, chuck all the squatters stuff on to the street and game over ...
 
Tombstone said:
Who pays for any damages done to the home in that time? Or for the bills for services (water, electric, phone etc) used during that period?
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Depends - AFAIK some squatters, if left unchallenged, will arrange utilities etc.. actually helps with their case that the unoccupied building is their 'home' - ditto to if they're carried out repairs. If they can stay there for a silly length of time (like 20 years or something) they can claim the freehold themselves.

In other cases - like these students from europe who are just squatting for fun/to party etc.. I'd assume they don't pay for anything, trash the place and just leave it all for the owner to pick up the tab.
 
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