How landlords can stand up for their rights against squatters

How landlords can stand up for their rights against squatters

11:57 AM, 24th November 2010, About 13 years ago 2

Text Size

Housing Minister Grant Shapps has published new guidance on how homeowners can stand up for their rights against squatters.

The online guide published by the Communities and Local Government Department sets out the rights of landlords and other homeowners and explains what to do if a property is invaded.

Squatters illegally occupy about 20,000 homes – some move in while the owners are away for only a short time on holiday or business.

A typical scenario is for the squatters to claim a ‘letting agent’ has charged them a fee of several thousand pounds to rent them the home for 12 months and refuse to move out even if the police are called as the squatters broke in to the home.

Some homeowners and landlords have had to go through the courts to repossess the property only to find the squatters have stripped out anything of value and left huge repair bills behind.

The guidance makes clear that a squatter commits an offence if they fail to leave a residential property when required to do so by or on behalf of either a displaced residential occupier or certain other occupiers whose interest in the premises is protected under the legislation.

Anyone looking to remove squatters from their home can also apply for an interim possession order.

This requires squatters to leave the property within 24 hours of the order being served or they are committing a criminal offence and can be arrested and face up to six months imprisonment.

Mr Shapps said: “Recent high profile cases have served to illustrate the distress and misery that squatters can cause. I want to shut the door to squatters once and for all, and for homeowners to know their rights just as well as those looking to take over their properties.

“That’s why I’m publishing advice making clear how the law is on their side, and that there are steps they can take to take back their home quickly and effectively.”

More detailed advice is published at: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/advicesquatters.


Share This Article


Comments

10:23 AM, 3rd December 2010, About 13 years ago

Should we take any adice from Grant Shapps - a man who breaks his promises (yes I will reinstate direct payments to landlords of LHA should the conservatives be the next government). Follow his advice at your peril, he will most probably have you for wrongful eviction if you are able to get the squatters out!

10:25 AM, 3rd December 2010, About 13 years ago

Now I know why he has not answered any of my post letters or emails - he has been spending more public money on devising advice and guidelines over squatters. And yet it was under a conservative administration that a London council lost a £3million property to squatters.

Leave Comments

In order to post comments you will need to Sign In or Sign Up for a FREE Membership

or

Don't have an account? Sign Up

Landlord Tax Planning Book Now