Should Squatters have rights? Poll Results/Discussion

JoeyG

Opachu wrote: »

It's not my intention to anger anyone, and I agree that "bad squatting" is exactly that, Bad, and there should be more laws against it.

Forgive me if I'm wrong but squatters arent immune from laws regarding criminal damage, illegal drug abuse etc etc... If squatters are doing this and getting away with it, surely its a problem with law enforcement, not squatters in general.

Sam_Bee

I'm struggling to comprehend some of the comments on here.

Why does everything have to be black and white?

There are 650,000 empty properties in the UK, of which 130,000 are government or council owned.

At the same time Shelter estimates there are up to 100,000 homeless families, which could add up to 500,000 people.

Council's offer grants of up to £30,000 to bring long term empty homes back into use.

To leave a perfectly usable property empty, particularly if owned by a council is the worst crime of all.

I've read newspapers reports of the type of absurd actions that some people have mentioned (i.e. I went away for the weekend, came back and my house was squatted - almost always in the Daily Mail strangely), and if / when these are true, there needs to be greater protection for the homeowner, no question, the people undertaking these actions are criminals and deserve to labelled as such.

But the vast majority of squatters (in fact, stuff that, 100% of the squatters i've met) have improved the homes vastly, often installing electricity, water, gas etc, and many have stayed in their properties for years, become part of the local community, and actually improved the value of the households they have taken over. Some have become lovely family homes.

James_N

harryhound wrote: »

Don't you think your problem was more likely caused by a misguided "human right act" type of legislation rather than the law as it applies to evicting someone? You seem to be muddling up several CRIMINAL offences.

I am not confusing anything my friend. The "squatter" behaved criminally in my view, but it was left to me to defend myself against him, at my expense, in the civil courts.

James_N

Sam_Bee wrote: »

But the vast majority of squatters (in fact, stuff that, 100% of the squatters i've met) have improved the homes vastly, often installing electricity, water, gas etc, and many have stayed in their properties for years, become part of the local community, and actually improved the value of the households they have taken over. Some have become lovely family homes.

The only squatting I have ever been aware of, and the episode that happened to me, was of a violent manipulative criminal, who threatened me, my children, my colleagues at work, and my home and property, and terrorised the neighbourhood where the property was situated. It never reached the Mail, nor would I want it to.

"Nice" squatters improving homes? Those are oxymora.

Sam_Bee

James_N wrote: »

The only squatting I have ever been aware of, and the episode that happened to me, was of a violent manipulative criminal, who threatened me, my children, my colleagues at work, and my home and property, and terrorised the neighbourhood where the property was situated. It never reached the Mail, nor would I want it to.

That's a horrendous situation, and I hope the episode got sorted, and the relevant parties got dealt with accordingly.

James_N wrote: »

"Nice" squatters improving homes? Those are oxymora.

Your episode would unfortunately hinder your view, and I understand that your would be unlikely to agree unless you'd seen first hand the positives that can and do happen. We are talking about two very different types of person and two very different situations though, as far removed as you can imagine.

harryhound

speedtwin wrote: »

I dont think that is true if it is unfurnished and empty I think it is council tax free for only 6 months

Very good point. One of the ways I was able to shift my unwanted squatter was to join forces with the local council (Tory for what it is worth) so that at the same time the council waded in for unpaid council tax.
(The cheeky b*****d had told the council investigator that I was the landlord and was exercising my landlord rights to collect council tax on behalf of the council).

So I would think you have a right under the freedom of information act to check and see if you property (full of squatters) is paying its council tax.
(Council will try and wriggle out of doing anything) THEN complain to your councillor (waste of time?) and then to the Ombudsman about mal-administration. You won't make a profit on the compensation you get BUT at least you will have said GOYA to the jobs- worths in the office and embarrassed the political time-server who is your councillor.

Harry.

harryhound

jago25_98 wrote: »

"I'll do what I bloody well like with my own property!"

Ever had any dealings with the Town & Country Planning Acts ?

Are you a landlord of a HIMO (House in multiple Occupation?) Here again the rules are different in Scotland ("worse"). If the answer is yes, then for a "household" of unrelated people (Unmarried mum with kids & new boyfriend?), you recently, at your expense become liable for making the place more or less fireproof. I saw it coming and advised a friend to check the implications and bale out of a 5 room house. The house had not gone on fire since young Victoria came to the throne:rolleyes:) The Council was in a position to wreck the internal appearance and force the spending of well over 10K to achieve hotel standard fire proofing. There is more to come as you are forced to reduce your tenant's carbon footprint - I wonder if it applies if squatters have made you responsible for a HIMO?

It is well over 100 years since you were allowed to: "do what I bloody well like with my own property!"

royalsteve

guppy wrote: »

The poll is very misleading...squatters have very few rights against the true owner of the property. In most cases a court order isn't even needed to get rid of them.

See:

http://england.shelter.org.uk/advice/advice-110.cfm

even easier, id just a couple of mates or more if needed and throw them out

royalsteve

TurkishDelight wrote: »

Yes, and mainly because it is skewed. I and my parents lived in a abandoned house for a year. We done it up, kept the garden, and left peacefully. The owners btw, (the forestry commision, a largely government dependent organisation ) refused our offer to buy or rent the house and it is empty and decaying to this day. With the housing crisis how can that possibly be right?

ah yes, maybe i should sell my house and then do the same and let someone else foot the bill...is that right...no!

royalsteve

PixiePie wrote: »

Try reading my post again.
And squatting is not theft of property. I still am amazed at the lack of imagination of some people. I truly truly hope people like you have a really horrid experience in your life as that might be the only way you actually can empathise with others and see another point of view - I already can, which is the main thrust of the point I was trying to make (when I said that not all squatters are evil AND not all squatters are wonderful).

which part of Thief do you not understand....if thats so, i need a new car...in fact there are lots of cars in the local car showroom and theyve been there for weeks....think ill just take one...no point in buying it....that is also thieving and your advocating something that is NO different....its not yours and your have no rights to it