Squatting to be made Illegal

[Derek Smith]

it is one thing to pass a law that looks good in the headlines but in practice it will still be a problem in many cases. if there are children then the police will not be able to get involved without the same length of time it takes now to eject squatters. Further those that are ejected will just place themselves in the care of the community.

Those coming home from holiday were displaced residential occupiers and there were certain provisions for them. The real problem was when premises were left unoccupied for ages and then squatters moved in.

This will not be carte blanche for a move against squatters.

[boxedoffroader]

Good news!

[wiggy001]

It is a lot quicker and cheaper to pay a few pub bouncers to evict squatters than to go through the legal channels.

Or so I'm led to believe

[Carrot]

Liokault said:

Carrot said:

Seriously, if you owned a house and found squatters in there, would you not gather a load of 6ft skinhead goatee'd PH's round, break in, drag them out, beat them within an inch of their lives and tell them to fk off? Then just deny it when the police came round. What are they going to do?

Pour a large volume of cement down the toilet, remove all of the wiring then move on is, I understand, the squatters tactic when offered violence.

How would they manage to do that when the first thing they hear is several very large blokes, possibly armed, burst into the house and march them out?

It would not be prudent to send them a nice letter first saying "Pardon me chaps, but we are going to pop round for a bit of a scuffle, and would ever so like it if you would offer as least resistance as possible. Toodle pip".

[Prof Prolapse]

Carrot said:

It would not be prudent to send them a nice letter first saying "Pardon me chaps, but we are going to pop round for a bit of a scuffle, and would ever so like it if you would offer as least resistance as possible. Toodle pip".

It worked in first world war...

[Liokault]

Carrot said:

How would they manage to do that when the first thing they hear is several very large blokes, possibly armed, burst into the house and march them out?

It would not be prudent to send them a nice letter first saying "Pardon me chaps, but we are going to pop round for a bit of a scuffle, and would ever so like it if you would offer as least resistance as possible. Toodle pip".

Because, once out of the property, they will call the police and inform them that their squatters "rights" have been violated.

If you were to offer violence, you would need to do it without the police being involved, because sadly, for some crazy reason, we have given squatters "rights", which would see the police walk them back to the front door, then stick around to make sure they are all tucked up, warm and safe.

[Liokault]

This has got me thinking now. Is squatters rights limited to bricks and mortar? Could one, for example, squat a Ferrari?

[Carrot]

Liokault said:

Carrot said:

How would they manage to do that when the first thing they hear is several very large blokes, possibly armed, burst into the house and march them out?

It would not be prudent to send them a nice letter first saying "Pardon me chaps, but we are going to pop round for a bit of a scuffle, and would ever so like it if you would offer as least resistance as possible. Toodle pip".

Because, once out of the property, they will call the police and inform them that their squatters "rights" have been violated.

If you were to offer violence, you would need to do it without the police being involved, because sadly, for some crazy reason, we have given squatters "rights", which would see the police walk them back to the front door, then stick around to make sure they are all tucked up, warm and safe.

Firstly, even if you were a brazen squatter, would really want to go anywhere near the house that you have just been literally threatened at gunpoint by a nutter.

Secondly, prove that you were squatting there to the police, your word against theirs (if you were stupid enough to approach them. You are no longer in the house, the house is secure with the owners in there. I could equally just turn up at your door tomorrow with the police and say "but I was squatting in there yesterday, and they kicked me out" - what proof do I have? Even if I had a photo of me in the house, it could have been taken with your consent.

This all relies on the fact that the person defending their property does actually do it in a very fearsome manner.

[V8mate]

Ohhhhh.

Saw the thread title and thought that girls had been banned from peeing in public.

[Liokault]

Carrot said:

Liokault said:

Carrot said:

How would they manage to do that when the first thing they hear is several very large blokes, possibly armed, burst into the house and march them out?

It would not be prudent to send them a nice letter first saying "Pardon me chaps, but we are going to pop round for a bit of a scuffle, and would ever so like it if you would offer as least resistance as possible. Toodle pip".

Because, once out of the property, they will call the police and inform them that their squatters "rights" have been violated.

If you were to offer violence, you would need to do it without the police being involved, because sadly, for some crazy reason, we have given squatters "rights", which would see the police walk them back to the front door, then stick around to make sure they are all tucked up, warm and safe.

Firstly, even if you were a brazen squatter, would really want to go anywhere near the house that you have just been literally threatened at gunpoint by a nutter.

Secondly, prove that you were squatting there to the police, your word against theirs (if you were stupid enough to approach them. You are no longer in the house, the house is secure with the owners in there. I could equally just turn up at your door tomorrow with the police and say "but I was squatting in there yesterday, and they kicked me out" - what proof do I have? Even if I had a photo of me in the house, it could have been taken with your consent.

This all relies on the fact that the person defending their property does actually do it in a very fearsome manner.

I understand the modus operandi of the squatter is to change the locks. So, first action would be to report gun waving nutter, second action would be to show the police that you are the key holder and that the guy who actually owns the property in fact has no key. Third action would be to ask the nice police man to hold the door open for you while you carry the heavy cement bag in.

[Carrot]

Liokault said:

Carrot said:

Liokault said:

Carrot said:

How would they manage to do that when the first thing they hear is several very large blokes, possibly armed, burst into the house and march them out?

It would not be prudent to send them a nice letter first saying "Pardon me chaps, but we are going to pop round for a bit of a scuffle, and would ever so like it if you would offer as least resistance as possible. Toodle pip".

Because, once out of the property, they will call the police and inform them that their squatters "rights" have been violated.

If you were to offer violence, you would need to do it without the police being involved, because sadly, for some crazy reason, we have given squatters "rights", which would see the police walk them back to the front door, then stick around to make sure they are all tucked up, warm and safe.

Firstly, even if you were a brazen squatter, would really want to go anywhere near the house that you have just been literally threatened at gunpoint by a nutter.

Secondly, prove that you were squatting there to the police, your word against theirs (if you were stupid enough to approach them. You are no longer in the house, the house is secure with the owners in there. I could equally just turn up at your door tomorrow with the police and say "but I was squatting in there yesterday, and they kicked me out" - what proof do I have? Even if I had a photo of me in the house, it could have been taken with your consent.

This all relies on the fact that the person defending their property does actually do it in a very fearsome manner.

I understand the modus operandi of the squatter is to change the locks. So, first action would be to report gun waving nutter, second action would be to show the police that you are the key holder and that the guy who actually owns the property in fact has no key. Third action would be to ask the nice police man to hold the door open for you while you carry the heavy cement bag in.

Ok, to counter this hypothetical situation, police turn up with squatter saying about guns and broken locks. Homeowner turns round and says they were upstairs sleeping, heard someone breaking in, came down threatened the burgler (obviously not mentioning weapons), and the lock has been smashed off the door in the break in process, so no proof of changing locks. No proof of guns or large guys as they have left quickly after the squatter was evicted.

[Fittster]

So what happens to abandoned properties now? Let's say I buy a house and the dissappear off the face of the planet, the propeerty will not be mantained and will eventual become a ruin, possibly damaing neighbouring properties.

[Carrot]

Fittster said:

So what happens to abandoned properties now? Let's say I buy a house and the dissappear off the face of the planet, the propeerty will not be mantained and will eventual become a ruin, possibly damaing neighbouring properties.

Presumably after a certain period of time you would be declared dead. Would still be council tax bills etc going to the house, some company or something would notice. Not sure though...

[Liokault]

Carrot said:

Liokault said:

Carrot said:

Liokault said:

Carrot said:

How would they manage to do that when the first thing they hear is several very large blokes, possibly armed, burst into the house and march them out?

It would not be prudent to send them a nice letter first saying "Pardon me chaps, but we are going to pop round for a bit of a scuffle, and would ever so like it if you would offer as least resistance as possible. Toodle pip".

Because, once out of the property, they will call the police and inform them that their squatters "rights" have been violated.

If you were to offer violence, you would need to do it without the police being involved, because sadly, for some crazy reason, we have given squatters "rights", which would see the police walk them back to the front door, then stick around to make sure they are all tucked up, warm and safe.

Firstly, even if you were a brazen squatter, would really want to go anywhere near the house that you have just been literally threatened at gunpoint by a nutter.

Secondly, prove that you were squatting there to the police, your word against theirs (if you were stupid enough to approach them. You are no longer in the house, the house is secure with the owners in there. I could equally just turn up at your door tomorrow with the police and say "but I was squatting in there yesterday, and they kicked me out" - what proof do I have? Even if I had a photo of me in the house, it could have been taken with your consent.

This all relies on the fact that the person defending their property does actually do it in a very fearsome manner.

I understand the modus operandi of the squatter is to change the locks. So, first action would be to report gun waving nutter, second action would be to show the police that you are the key holder and that the guy who actually owns the property in fact has no key. Third action would be to ask the nice police man to hold the door open for you while you carry the heavy cement bag in.

Ok, to counter this hypothetical situation, police turn up with squatter saying about guns and broken locks. Homeowner turns round and says they were upstairs sleeping, heard someone breaking in, came down threatened the burgler (obviously not mentioning weapons), and the lock has been smashed off the door in the break in process, so no proof of changing locks. No proof of guns or large guys as they have left quickly after the squatter was evicted.

They would need to smash the lock right off and hide it so that the squatter can't show that his key fits it.

One thing I have learned about squatters is that they tend to know the legal ins and outs of squatting and have a process that they follow. I find it very very unlikely that they would not be able to show they were in the property and were "valid" (for want of a better term) squatters.

Just google squatter help, or squatter information, which I did a few months back when I had an empty property and was looking for info on my position if a squatter got in. You will find 10 times more info to help squatters carry on squatting than is available for the guy who is being squatted on (so to speak).

[Liokault]

Fittster said:

So what happens to abandoned properties now? Let's say I buy a house and the dissappear off the face of the planet, the propeerty will not be mantained and will eventual become a ruin, possibly damaing neighbouring properties.

I would imagine that it would get squatted anyway, but those squatters would not be able to claim any right and if you turn up again, they would just leave.


I have to say that this gov is doing a lot right!

[Fittster]

Carrot said:

Fittster said:

So what happens to abandoned properties now? Let's say I buy a house and the dissappear off the face of the planet, the propeerty will not be mantained and will eventual become a ruin, possibly damaing neighbouring properties.

Presumably after a certain period of time you would be declared dead. Would still be council tax bills etc going to the house, some company or something would notice. Not sure though...

I thought the law basically says if you squat in a property and no one challenges it for 10 years you can take legal ownership. The logic behind it being that you don't end up with derilict properties dotted around that no one can legally do anything about.

So I have a house and no next of kin, I disappear and am declared dead after a period of time. Once the courts decide I'm not coming back what happens to the house?

[powerstroke]

Liokault said:

Carrot said:

Seriously, if you owned a house and found squatters in there, would you not gather a load of 6ft skinhead goatee'd PH's round, break in, drag them out, beat them within an inch of their lives and tell them to fk off? Then just deny it when the police came round. What are they going to do?

Pour a large volume of cement down the toilet, remove all of the wiring then move on is, I understand, the squatters tactic when offered violence.

Id like to see them manage that while being attended to with a baseball bat

[Rude-boy]

Liokault said:

Just google squatter help, or squatter information, which I did a few months back when I had an empty property and was looking for info on my position if a squatter got in. You will find 10 times more info to help squatters carry on squatting than is available for the guy who is being squatted on (so to speak).

Very true.

Even truer is that there might well be a number of intelligent people who can read that and then work out how to counter those obstacles.

For example one might relieve said squatters of their keys and change the locks whilst a friend has a cup of tea with them in the living room whilst they discuss their new beretta over and under. Squatters aren’t usually know for being the tidiest of people so you might also have someone making sure that the Property is spruced up before dropping off said squatter at a local beauty spot a few miles out of town.

I’m not saying that I would ever advocate any of these actions, nor that I am aware of anyone who might have had to take such a course of action but I suspect that it might well prove effective if orchestrated correctly.

[Rude-boy]

Fittster said:

Once the courts decide I'm not coming back what happens to the house?

Goes tyo the Crown, as does everything else you own in such circumstances.

[Liokault]

Rude-boy said:

Very true.

Even truer is that there might well be a number of intelligent people who can read that and then work out how to counter those obstacles.

For example one might relieve said squatters of their keys and change the locks whilst a friend has a cup of tea with them in the living room whilst they discuss their new beretta over and under. Squatters aren’t usually know for being the tidiest of people so you might also have someone making sure that the Property is spruced up before dropping off said squatter at a local beauty spot a few miles out of town.

I’m not saying that I would ever advocate any of these actions, nor that I am aware of anyone who might have had to take such a course of action but I suspect that it might well prove effective if orchestrated correctly.

Well, the fact that your plan reads like a rejected Guy Ritchie script is probably the reason that few if any try it.

I do recall reading that Lenny Mclean used to evict squatters as a side line, but I think that was before the police saw squatters as having rights in the same way that they do today.