Empty House and Squatters!

[spydersingh]

Needed a PH perspective on this.....

Currently managing a couple of empty props for the folks as their health isn't that great at the moment. One of the houses has been empty coming onto about 3 years and was found to be squatted in just before Xmas 08. Spoke to the Police/Solicitor and had to go down the Notice of Possession route instead of my preferred route of a few heavies and brute force. Cutting a long story short, I had the hearing for possession on Fri 13th and won, same day, neighbour of squat house calls to say she smells gas and has called gas board. Gas board have called coppers as can't get in (locks changed by squatters), coppers caught and arrested one guy. I turn up, the squatters have by passed gas meter and used flexi hose to connect straight using car body repair filler as a glue(!!!) and have done the same with the elect meter as well! Very lucky no explosion as gas and elect meters were next to each other. I then change locks and secure openings, thinking all good. Copper says not to do too much to house yet as they want forensics around to check and hopefully I can get builders in ASAP after.

I speak to coppers today about forensics/etc and told that they want nothing else to do with case. Chap they arrested got left off the same day with a caution for tampering with gas/elect supply and not trespassing! To top things off, neighbour calls to say they are back!

Now have a couple of options:

1. Go in with a few heavy lads and baseball bats and do some damage
2. Wait for bailiffs and get them officially kicked out
3. ?

Just to get another angle on this, what can they achieve by re-entering etc apart from a roof over their head? Can they claim legal possession after a while?

[_Batty_]

throw a match in and claim the insurance?
Gas should make sure the squatters don't return

[PD9]

Baseball bats and damage

I'll help you

[Chainguy]

Few mates and a big dog or two. It works

They don't want the hassle. As soon as they see your serious, they move on. They just need to know you're not going to lay back and take it. They don't want their heads kicked in, so they'll go.

[Fittster]

Why not get some tenents or sell? An empty property is always going to attract scum.

[mrmaggit]

PD9 said:

Baseball bats and damage

Yup, you've tried the legal route, no more Mr. Nice Guy.

[phoenix14]

Go to the house, phone police and claim you have a shotgun and are ready to blow Mr Squatters head off.

Should see a speedy response.

[abarth130]

You tried the legal route - it didn't work.

Violence is clearly the answer.

[metro lover]

I'd try the intimidation tactic, but from past experience make sure the lads are "heavy lads" because you never know, they might be too

[spydersingh]

Fittster said:

Why not get some tenents or sell? An empty property is always going to attract scum.

It was in the process of being tarted up for re-renting.

I like the suggestions. maybe can twin this with a PH Cruise!

[dirty boy]

_Batty_ said:

throw a match in and claim the insurance?
Gas should make sure the squatters don't return

Yes, do this

Then delete the evidence


Erm...

[Dracoro]

metro lover said:

I'd try the intimidation tactic, but from past experience make sure the lads are "heavy lads" because you never know, they might be too

Go to a local nightclub, make friendly banter with bouncers. Ask them if half a dozen or so of them want to earn £20 each for an hours work after their shift

[Soovy]

Here's some professional advice.

Go round with some big mates and some dogs, and suggest they leave within 24 hours.


The Law will be no help here.

[lawrence567]

Bats & heavies... they'll soon fk off.
If not you can get pleasure in kicking the st out of them.

[Rude-boy]

Once you have started down the legal route you had best follow it to its conclusion.

The Squatters will know this to.

[john_p]

What if some bigger, nastier* people wanted to squat there instead?



*paid

[metro lover]

Dracoro said:

metro lover said:

I'd try the intimidation tactic, but from past experience make sure the lads are "heavy lads" because you never know, they might be too

Go to a local nightclub, make friendly banter with bouncers. Ask them if half a dozen or so of them want to earn £20 each for an hours work after their shift

£20 each? you know most bouncers are on that or more than anyway lol. try the shotgun method

[Marf]

http://www.claymorepaintball.com/shop/products.asp...

one in each window.

watch the great unwashed run out, run in yourself and secure the property.

[PD9]

There was a bit about squatting on the One Show last week. It seems that the only way that works is to remove them 'physically'. You wouldnt like them in your own house so why suffer with them in one of your properties.

[Fittster]

spydersingh said:

Fittster said:

Why not get some tenents or sell? An empty property is always going to attract scum.

It was in the process of being tarted up for re-renting.

For 3 years! I'd get heavy with the squatters and the builders