My friend had an empty property, before a bunch of squatters occupied it. What is the best way to get rid or them (no jokes please)? Is the procedure really long and involving the police? What are the squatters' legal rights?
2006-09-20 00:00:51 · 31 answers · asked by Agne 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
Squatters have no legal rights. They are trespassing on private property. Get the police out there to send them packing. And have her post No Trespassing signs. The longer they are there, the more they will feel that they own the place, so immediate action is best. Don't let them settle in and get comfortable, it will be that much harder to get them to leave. they may try to return after they have been given the boot, so she may want to install an alarm or some other type of deterrent. Maybe some German shepherds or Doberman pinschers....
2006-09-20 00:03:43 · answer #1 · answered by Jeannie 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is a long process. Squatters rights only kick in if they have been living in and maintaining the property as though it were their own for twelve years.
There is an offence of violence to a secure entry, which will cause problems. This makes it illegal to break down the door (even to your own property) if somebody inside is opposed to the action.
There are two main ways to play it. The legal way is costly and time consuming and therefore frustrating. It involves get eviction notices and eventually having the squatters legally removed.
The second way is the faster, more effective way - the illegal way. This involves several of your hardest mates hoofing the door in at 5am and threatening to torch the place if the squatters aren't all out in ten minutes. You do, of course run the risk of somebody calling the police, especially if they call your bluff and you actually have to ignite a few of them.
There is, however, a middle way - which involves being sneaky. They can't stay in the house all the time - unless they're very organised and have a shift system going. Simply wait until they go out to sign on, or buy drugs, etc. and then hoof the door in, chuck all their stuff into a skip and change the locks. To do this effectively you need to hire the skip the day before, have a 24hr locksmith wiating round the corner and a security firm ready to guard the property for a week after the event. Again this is costly, but effective - and legal.
In the unlikely event of them running a shift system, you will have to either reason with them and hope they agree to move in, or con them into letting you in to be able to start chucking their things out. If you do this, take some security with you, so they can't stop you and if the olice are called, you won't be arrested.
Good luck.
2006-09-20 00:12:15 · answer #2 · answered by lickintonight 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
You need to go to the courts to have them evicted under the squatters rights.
Other people contact the police but they can only do so much. There are certain companies in London that will evict squatters and board the place up.
It may be an idea to contact your local council and they sometime have a team that goes with the police to get them out
2006-09-20 00:07:18 · answer #3 · answered by alismudge 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
if they broke in to the premises then they have no rights whatsoever, call the police, but you will need to demonstrate that they broke in (signs of damage to windows / locks helps), failing that its a long drawn out legal process.
its a property issue - do your friend a favour get her to tak profesional legal advice (or failing that CAB). mistakes in property can cost vast amounts of money - its possible to loose the property alltogether if incorrect steps are taken, or steps are missed out.
The procedure may take a long long time, it may be relatively quick. it may actually be sensible for your friend to consider making a payment to get the squatters out (but dont offer it upfront, just think about what its goinf to cost to get shot of the squatters in terms of lost rent / sales / interest etc)
in any event your friend must start the ball rolling as soon as possible by reporting the matter to the police, and getting professional advice (unlike the advice hear which you dont know the accuracy or reliability od) - at least if your lawyers screws up you have the vague chance of soem redress.
2006-09-20 00:13:09 · answer #4 · answered by Mark J 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Based on my experience:
If he does not know their names, he must make enquires and if unsuccessful, this is stated in the application for a possession order at the county court. The clerk of court will generally help with the drafting the possession order that he may serve himself. This will not normally be accepted by the squatters and has to be nailed to the door.
Good Luck
Useful Legal guide:
http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/squatters.htm
The enemy website:
http://www.schnews.org.uk/diyguide/squatting.htm
2006-09-20 00:23:30 · answer #5 · answered by Clive 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live in Belfast, and there is no way a squatter would attempt to squat in my house, they dont like hobbling along on smashed knee caps, if you get my message. Alternative method which works is to obtain tne services of 2 heavies who "request" them to vacate the property in 24 hours. Don't even think of going to the cops, they are there to protect the offenders human rights.
2006-09-23 12:10:57 · answer #6 · answered by xenon 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is what you do, call the police when you know they are there, tell them that people are trespassing or squatting in your property. They will have to explain why they are there at which point you can tell them to prove that they legally live there. When they can not provide rent reciepts and or a lease aggreement the police should remove them at which point you can secure the property. They will most likely have crack cocaine so the police can arrest them for that.
2006-09-20 00:14:38 · answer #7 · answered by R & B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
do they ever leave the house if so when they are all out change all the locks and make sure the property is secure if not try to get them all to leave the house at one time im sure you can come up with something dont forget to put all their stuff outside before you change the locks once your sure its secure go away on holiday for a week this gives them the message to move on tell the local police youve had problems with break ins and they will move on any shady characters while your gone
2006-09-22 19:45:25 · answer #8 · answered by madeleine b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
along the lines of Polly pock, make the building a health hazard. release rats in their and leave loads of food scraps in the garden or yard to attract more rats. If that doesnt make them leave, then the rats will soon escalate, the neighbours will be on to the council, the council will be onto you. Then you can make it clear to the council that you are unable to address the problem as there are squatters there, they will have to act in the interest of public safety, job done!
2006-09-20 00:16:17 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Help them find somewhere more suitable to live. Give them a job renovating your property. Perhaps they could become your paid property developers?
What are the squatters human rights which are being abused by society? Why are they squatting?
2006-09-20 00:15:12 · answer #10 · answered by James 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋