Squatting means occupying empty buildings, or land, without permission. Normally, it means homeless people finding somewhere to live, for a while at least, but what people do with the space they occupy is up to them. The following is a very basic guide. For more information or if you have any problems contact the Advisory Service for Squatters.

CHANGES IN LAW

Until recently squatting in England and Wales was generally a civil matter, not a criminal matter, but this has now changed to some extent. In September 2012  section 144 of the LASPO made it a criminal offence to trespass in residential properties with the intention of living there. Trespassing means being on someone else’s property without their permission.

If people are squatting in a clearly residential property, they risk arrest and so losing their home, but it does not cover all situations. The law DOES NOT cover situations where:

• the property is not residential,
• people are or were tenants (including sub-tenants) of the property,
• people have (or had) an agreement with someone with a right to the property,
• people in the property are not intending to live there (merely visiting maybe).

The definitions in the law are technical and open to some argument, but basically if a building or part of a building was designed for people to live in before you moved into it, it is residential. Shops, pubs (but not flats above them), warehouses etc are non-residential.

If you didn’t know that you were trespassing you are not covered by the new law, but it also says that if you “ought to know” you would be committing an offence.

Be prepared to explain why you are not breaking the law. If the property is non-residential there are new Legal Warnings which explain the situation clearly. Otherwise you need to be clear on the law and have an argument ready, preferably written up. The ASS website has up to date legal warnings, draft statements explaining other circumstances and a link to the new law.

The new law does not give owners themselves, or their agents, rights to use force or threats against occupiers. Only the police have the authority to force entry and enforce the new law.

NON-RESIDENTIAL SQUATTING IS STILL LEGAL

Squatting in non-residential buildings, or where there has been an agreement, is still a civil matter. To resolve it the owner has to take you to court. The owners have legal ways and procedures to have squatters evicted and cannot legally use force or threats. Section 6 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 makes it an offence to force entry to a building which is occupied, and this includes squats. This will no longer help against the police if they are enforcing the new law against squatters in residential properties, but is otherwise still valid. This is explained in the Legal Warnings, which squatters have either on display or ready to show people.

FINDING A PLACE

There are thousands of empty properties, including many that are non-residential, some of which are more obvious than others. Normally you will have to keep an eye on a place to make sure it is empty. It is best to research a place thoroughly before you squat it.

The local council’s Planning Department has a register of all planning applications and decisions which you can see online. This will tell you who, if anyone, has made an application or got permission.

The Land Registry records ownership of most places. You can get the details for a particular place at landregistry.gov.uk. It costs £3 per place (with a credit or debit card). If there is both a freehold and leasehold owner registered, the leaseholder is the one with rights to the place and can evict you. Don’t assume that if you can’t find an owner, or if the owner is dead or bankrupt that you are automatically safe. Dead owners have executors and bankrupt companies have administrators.

Once you are inside you will find more useful information in the mail and any documents left around. Keep them all carefully.

GETTING IN

Many empty properties can be walked into as they have become insecure through vandalism. You do not want to commit “criminal damage” but the police may try to accuse you of this. They would only be able to do anything if there were witnesses. Once you are in, change the locks and secure every door and any other ways in, so that you control entry, and are physically, as well as legally, protected. You should repair any damage done by other people straight away.

STAYING IN

There should always be someone in the place as this is what gives you your legal protection. The owners can evict you if they find the place empty, so you should always have someone at home.  When you move in you should note the reading on the electricity and gas meters and contact the suppliers telling them you wish to set up an account. A copy of such a letter can help show the police you are trying to pay. You can set up an account online, over the phone or via post. Don’t  say  you are squatting, as then they do not have a duty to supply you. Simply say you have just moved in and would like to set up an account. Always ask for a reference number, so you have some proof to show the cops that you are intending to pay.

IF THE POLICE TURN UP

DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR always speak to them through a window on the first floor or the letter box.

As explained above there are very specific conditions in which the new law has effect, and the police SHOULD not take any interest otherwise. You should explain the situation to them without letting them into the property.

The police should know that squatting in commercial properties is a civil matter and that squatters have the same rights to protection as anyone else. Have a Legal Warning or a prepared statement handy so you can show it to the police. You should be able to convince them that you have not done anything wrong, that you didn’t damage anything and that you are arranging to pay any relevant bills. Be polite but firm. They should leave you alone, but they do have some rights of entry in some circumstances.

In the unlikely event that you are arrested, you have the right to a solicitor without any cost: ASS and SLN know some good ones. You have the right to make one phone call. The police must release you within 24 hours, or charge you. You do not have to tell them anything other than your name, address and date of birth and you should not do so. Only accept a solicitor who is happy with you giving a no comment interview. If the police know that you have committed a crime then they will charge you. If not, you may say something which can be misinterpreted.  In such a stressful situation it is too easy to accidentally say something incriminating. We advise you to give a NO COMMENT interview.

Generally, record as much information as possible, about any police officers threatening you and your home, including their numbers, and anything they say. If things go wrong contact ASS, the Squatters Legal Network or your local squatters network to discuss making a complaint, and/or suing the cops. Keeping notes on any visits from the police or owner can also be useful later when it comes to writing a court defence.

NEIGHBOURS

It is good to have your neighbours on your side, so talk to them and try not to alienate them. They may have useful information about the property and may be able to keep an eye out for you, or help pressure the owners to leave you alone.

OWNERS

If you did not research the ownership of the place before you moved in, do it as soon afterwards as you can. This can give you some idea of what to expect when they become aware of your occupation. Don’t be surprised that the owner will be unhappy to find you in occupation, after all they have no idea who you are and what to expect of you. Use your common sense when dealing with them. It might be worth explaining to the owner that they do not have to take you to court but could come to an agreement with you. It can be in their interests to have you looking after their property. If they evict you they may just have to go through the trouble and expense of evicting another lot of squatters, or hiring some more expensive form of security.

COURT CASES

The usual way to be evicted is through a court case. You do not have to go to court, but it is normally a good idea as there are often ways to get more time. Do not leave when you get your court papers, you will have some time before any court order takes effect.

When you get your court papers you should bring them to the ASS immediately. The ASS know the law better than most owners or their solicitors, and better than many judges (though they are harder to convince). If the owners have applied for an Interim Possession Order (IPO) and succeeded, you will have 24 hours (from when the court order is served) to move out, or you could be arrested. An ordinary Possession Order (which is more common) has to be enforced by a court bailiff evicting you. This can take some time and you should get notice of when they are coming, but this is not guaranteed. It’s a good idea to ring up the court to find out the eviction date as this will give you more advanced notice.

ORGANISING

With the new law people are going to have to be more organised, and more prepared to support each other. There are some local networks, informal or a bit more formal, and there’s always room for more.

WHATEVER THEY SAY, SQUATTING WILL STAY!

CONTACTS

// ADVICE //

Advisory Service for Squatters (ASS)
Angel Alley, 84b Whitechapel High St
London, E1 7QX

Open Monday to Friday 2-6pm
Tel: 0203 216 0099
Fax: 0203 216 0098
advice [at] squatter [dot] org [dot] uk
www.squatter.org.uk

Squatters Legal Network
sln [at] aktivix [dot] org · 07925 769858
www.network23.org/squatterslegalnetwork

Practical Squatters Nights
Tuesdays 7-8pm
1st and 3rd Tuesday – LARC, 61 Fieldgate St E1
2nd and 4th Tuesday – 56a InfoShop, 56 Crampton Street SE17

// CAMPAIGNING //

Squatters Action for Secure Homes (SQUASH)
info [at] squashcampaign [dot] org · 07895 107544
www.squashcampaign.org

// LOCAL GROUPS //

Eviction Resistance Network (London)
evictionresistance [at] squat [dot] net · 07591 415860
www.evictionresistance.blogspot.co.uk

NELSN (N.E. London)
northeastlondonsquattersnetwork [at] riseup [dot] net

BERN (Birmingham)
brumern [at] riseup [dot] net · 07591 449325
www.network23.org/bern

SNOB-AHA (Brighton)
snobaha [at] riseup [dot] net · 07594 808891

www.network23.org/snob
BHAM (Bristol)
housingaction [at] yahoo [dot] co [dot] uk · 07833 100399
www.public-interest.co.uk/bham

// LINK TO THE NEW LAW ON SQUATTING //
S144 LASPO

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/10/section/144

updated // 21 November 2012