Squatters?

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Skitzer

Skitzer

Diamond Member
Mar 20, 2000
4,414
3
81
What the Hell. I didn't realize this was so prevalent over there.
Why haven't they passed laws yet to prevent this from happening?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-Hamilton-Brown-begs-squatters-letterbox.html

I can tell you what would happen if this took place in one of our cities.
This is just wrong on so many levels.

"After squatters moved into John Hamilton-Brown's new £1million five bedroom home he has been forced to beg them to get out through his letterbox".

 
Ichinisan

Ichinisan

Lifer
Oct 9, 2002
28,298
1,235
136
Skitzer said:
What the Hell. I didn't realize this was so prevalent over there.
Click to expand...
There was a thread about a guy who took a vacation while his home was being renovated. When he returned, the squatters had taken over and he was not allowed to "harass" them.

Since reading that thread, I've seen ATOT reference squatter law many, many times.



Skitzer said:
Why haven't they passed laws yet to prevent this from happening?
Click to expand...
They do just the opposite. They have laws protecting "squatters' rights."



Skitzer said:
I can tell you what would happen if this took place in one of our cities.
This is just wrong on so many levels.
Click to expand...
Agreed.
 
BudAshes

BudAshes

Lifer
Jul 20, 2003
13,990
3,346
146
Charge them with breaking and entering. Have them arrested. Go back in your house. I don't get how this isn't possible.
 
frostedflakes

frostedflakes

Diamond Member
Mar 1, 2005
7,925
1
81
BudAshes said:
Charge them with breaking and entering. Have them arrested. Go back in your house. I don't get how this isn't possible.
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They can do this if the squatters forcefully enter the house. However if a door or window or whatever is left unlocked (or if the squatters can break in and get the damage fixed before police show up I guess) the homeowner is kind of screwed.

Really weird laws they have on this stuff over there, no idea why they haven't been changed yet.
 
HAL9000

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
3
76
frostedflakes said:
They can do this if the squatters forcefully enter the house. However if a door or window or whatever is left unlocked (or if the squatters can break in and get the damage fixed before police show up I guess) the homeowner is kind of screwed.

Really weird laws they have on this stuff over there, no idea why they haven't been changed yet.
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This.

I'm all for squatters rights, when it comes to abandoned office buildings, but not private homes.
 
R

Ronstang

Lifer
Jul 8, 2000
12,493
18
81
The UK is a fucked up mess of liberalism run amuck. They were once a great nation. Peer into our future, people unless we slay the beast now.
 
Jeff7

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
20
81
So wait, I'm not familiar with this whole "squatters" thing.

If someone there leaves the house for a little while, anyone can just wander in and legally refuse to leave?
 
HAL9000

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
3
76
Jeff7 said:
So wait, I'm not familiar with this whole "squatters" thing.

If someone there leaves the house for a little while, anyone can just wander in and legally refuse to leave?
Click to expand...

If the doors left open, they can lock it from the inside, There are loads more things they have to do. It's retarded. Normally it's used for abandoned office buildings, which I'm fine with.
 
MovingTarget

MovingTarget

Diamond Member
Jun 22, 2003
9,002
115
106
Ronstang said:
The UK is a fucked up mess of liberalism run amuck. They were once a great nation. Peer into our future, people unless we slay the beast now.
Click to expand...

Even the most liberal of liberals in the US would agree with how f*ed up that situation is. Liberalism isn't the problem.
 
B

Balt

Lifer
Mar 12, 2000
12,673
482
126
One of the squatters, who said he was 20, told the Sunday Telegraph: 'There are many empty homes and we should be able to live wherever we want.'
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:hmm:
 
M

Mark R

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
8,513
16
81
Jeff7 said:
If someone there leaves the house for a little while, anyone can just wander in and legally refuse to leave?
Click to expand...

The law permits anyone, who gains 'peaceful' access to a building that is not being used to claim it as their home, and as such, have the right not to be 'harassed'. So, if a house used to be rented, and the tenants moved out, and new tenants haven't moved in - then if someone can get in peacefully (i.e. through an unlocked door or window), they can set up home there.

Breaking in, or bypassing (e.g. picking) a lock is a crime (breaking and entering) - and if someone breaks in, then they forfeit any right to take up residence as a squatter. However, breaking in can be difficult to prove, if the method of bypassing a lock leaves no obvious damage (or if the damage can be easily repaired).

Any kind of harassment (e.g. turning off utilities, attempting to break in, leaving a security alarm in the building sounding, etc.) is taken seriously by the police and will usually end up with the harasser arrested.

Getting the squatters removed can take several months, and will require a court to order the squatters to leave. If they don't leave, then another court order is required to get bailiffs to remove them.

----

The law doesn't allow someone to just set up home in a building that is actually being used as a home (e.g. someone who goes off on vacation), or is about to be used as a home (e.g. a rental agreement has been signed and the tenant is due to move in on a specified date). Technically, the legal occupier (or soon to be occupier) can forcibly remove the squatters.

In practice, the police refuse to enforce this particular law without a court order, so it can be 1-2 weeks before removal can take place.
 
HAL9000

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
3
76
ahenkel said:
Ya know what. We get that its the equivalent of the New York Post a Murdoch owned piece of drivel. Still Its rather irritating that you keep point it out. It's no longer clever and you look like a twat when you do.
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I'll stop pointing it out when you guys stop posting things Like:

OH My god look what's going on in England

According to DailyMail.co.uk, everyone in England has been shot for trying to eat chocolate cakes on the street.
Click to expand...

It's fucking irritating and I wont stop until you do.
 
WelshBloke

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
33,145
11,314
136
ahenkel said:
Ya know what. We get that its the equivalent of the New York Post a Murdoch owned piece of drivel. Still Its rather irritating that you keep point it out. It's no longer clever and you look like a twat when you do.
Click to expand...

Daily Mail is not owned by NewsCorp, its worse than that.
 
Schadenfroh

Schadenfroh

Elite Member
Mar 8, 2003
38,416
4
0
Solution:

1. Allow private ownership of shotguns (without having to prove your need of one, registration is OK)
2. Implement Castle Laws
 
WelshBloke

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
33,145
11,314
136
DailyFail said:
Shoreditch County Court refused to issue an interim possession order forcing them to vacate the property within 24 hours because of a technicality - and it could now be six weeks before they are told have to go.
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I'm betting he didnt think they would turn up and didnt bring any documents showing his ownership of the property.
 
H

Herr Kutz

Platinum Member
Jun 14, 2009
2,545
242
106
Skitzer said:
What the Hell. I didn't realize this was so prevalent over there.
Why haven't they passed laws yet to prevent this from happening?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-Hamilton-Brown-begs-squatters-letterbox.html

I can tell you what would happen if this took place in one of our cities.
This is just wrong on so many levels.

"After squatters moved into John Hamilton-Brown's new £1million five bedroom home he has been forced to beg them to get out through his letterbox".
Click to expand...

It's basically a third world country. What do you expect?
 
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