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Commercial Squatters
fluffymuffy
Posts: 3,424 Forumite
An elderly relative of mine inherited an old industrial building. There was a lot of rubbish in there and a friend of a friend offered to help clear it out. They then proceeded to make their own of it and set up business in there. They pay no rent and have no tenancy agreement. They are commercial squatters.
The relative who owns it tried to negotiate some rent but an agreement could not be reached. The squatters offered to buy it - and eventually an agreement was reached to sell it to them for a song - as the solicitor advised that many thousands of pounds could be spent trying to evict them. The property is uninsurable at the moment.
My relative attempted to block any rights the squatters might gain by asking the local council not to accept any business rates payments from them. But eventually the time came when the relative could not afford to pay the rates on behalf of the squatters and they now pay that.
Trying to help but not sure what to suggest now. The solicitor keeps saying the squatters are always on the verge of completing on the deal. Every week they say it will be this week. But nothing comes of it.
Any thoughts?
The relative who owns it tried to negotiate some rent but an agreement could not be reached. The squatters offered to buy it - and eventually an agreement was reached to sell it to them for a song - as the solicitor advised that many thousands of pounds could be spent trying to evict them. The property is uninsurable at the moment.
My relative attempted to block any rights the squatters might gain by asking the local council not to accept any business rates payments from them. But eventually the time came when the relative could not afford to pay the rates on behalf of the squatters and they now pay that.
Trying to help but not sure what to suggest now. The solicitor keeps saying the squatters are always on the verge of completing on the deal. Every week they say it will be this week. But nothing comes of it.
Any thoughts?
I am the Cat who walks alone
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Comments
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Try another solicitor?Declutterbug-in-progress.⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️0
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fluffymuffy wrote: »as the solicitor advised that many thousands of pounds could be spent trying to evict them.
what rubbish advice from someone who should know better.
are you sure the solicitor isnt in on it. buying a building for a song and then flogging it for a proper market price. nice work if you can get it.0 -
No I don't think the solicitor is in on it. He's approaching the retirement end of his career and has been the family solicitor for many decades. He might just not have any fight left in him.
Has anyone any technical suggestions for a way forward?I am the Cat who walks alone0 -
fluffymuffy wrote: »Has anyone any technical suggestions for a way forward?
Yes, speak to a decent commercial property lawyer.
There's no such thing as Commercial Squatters within the context of what you're meaning. Squatters within residential property get significant assistance from the law because it is their "home", and as such significant hurdles need to be overcome to make them homeless.
Whilst commercial squatters do exist they have far less rights, an application to the court should get them removed.0 -
OP, presumably if they are 'commercial' then they work certain business hours? is it not possible to secure the premises overnight? or whenever they are not present?0
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OP, presumably if they are 'commercial' then they work certain business hours? is it not possible to secure the premises overnight? or whenever they are not present?
Possibly - but they are very aggressive, scary people. The aged relative who owns it has already had to change their phone number. The estate agent who valued it is not prepared to go back there either.I am the Cat who walks alone0 -
Leave a candle burning overnight accidentally?
Relative can sell the property to a trust/some other party (even if in name only, and they are trustees/still own the property through a company), then let that third party handle the eviction (so relative isn't in the obvious firing line)
Demolish the building
Send round a private eviction enforcement company (some dodge geezers, even scarier than the ones you're evicting)0 -
How scary! Could you apply and get a court order for possession and ask for a police presence with an order to stay away from the premises and your family members. Maybe pay a security firm with really large, strong figures to accompany you!0
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summerholiday wrote: »How scary! Could you apply and get a court order for possession and ask for a police presence with an order to stay away from the premises and your family members. Maybe pay a security firm with really large, strong figures to accompany you!
I think that's what the solicitor was worried about with the costs escalating. Needing personal protection forever after. The police are not really much use for ongoing stuff.I am the Cat who walks alone0 -
no insuranceLeave a candle burning overnight accidentally?
It would cost a fair bit to make the place safe after a fire.
I'm not sure burning down your own building is legal anyway?
And there are houses nearby.
That sounds like a good idea. I'll run it past the solicitor.Relative can sell the property to a trust/some other party (even if in name only, and they are trustees/still own the property through a company), then let that third party handle the eviction (so relative isn't in the obvious firing line)
Come to think of it the solicitor is probably scared too.Send round a private eviction enforcement company (some dodge geezers, even scarier than the ones you're evicting)
And then make sure relative never goes out alone? And get them a big dog?I am the Cat who walks alone0
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