Squatters aren’t fussy. Any empty property is fair game, whether it is a crumbling terrace house on a sink estate, or a £5 million mansion in Chelsea. So when you have a buy to let property remaining empty for any length of time, there is always a worry that squatters will decide your residence is perfect for their current living requirements. And once squatters move in, it can be a total nightmare trying to remove them.
However, as of September 1st, it will be a criminal offence to squat in a residential building of any description and therefore punishable under UK Law. Anyone entering a residential property unlawfully, with the intention of setting up home for any period of time, will be classed as a trespasser and subject to six months in prison or a £5,000 fine—or in the worst of cases, potentially both.
This is great news for landlords. If you have an empty property and you discover squatters have moved in, you can ask the police to act on your behalf and remove the unwelcome guests. You can also do the same if you have squatters currently in residence, and who still remain as of September 1st 2012.
The new offence of squatting will not, however, apply to tenants who are lawfully in residence, but who are withholding rent or refusing to vacate at the end of an agreed tenancy; in this instance, landlords will have to follow normal eviction procedures. The offence will also not be enforceable retrospectively, so even if you had squatters in residence prior to September 1st, you can’t take action if they’ve already left!
