O/T Squatters.

[Freddie Goodwin.]

I live in a semi-d out in the wilds of Lower Bev & my next door neighbours have done a rather mysterious moonlt flit.

The council were up pretty soon and were clearing up and changing the locks but, stone me, within hours squatters were in.

We were only made aware when a council official came up & told us. As yet we have not seen anyone but the (squatters) have poster a notice in the window, presumable stating their rights. it would appear that they got through a window.

So how come they heared of an empty property so soon and what of the council workers who should have secured the building? I do have squatters who move into places that stand empty for months but this is a 3 bedrommed council house and there are many on the list.

They may be good neighbours, inviting us round for the odd beer or splif, cutting the grass etc etc. or they may be a wild bunch with late night noise and constant trouble, not something we want with a shared front path and an unsecured garden, plus we often have our g'kids up.

So, any advice, experinces etc?

 

[surrey jim]

if they got in through a window this is breaking and entering and therefore they can be evicted even with that note in the window (not the voice of an expert tho)

 

[hitony]

In many of the world's poorer countries there are extensive slums or shanty towns, typically built on the edges of major cities and consisting almost entirely of self-constructed housing built without the landowner's permission. While these settlements may in time grow to become both legalised and indistinguishable from normal residential neighbourhoods, they start off as squats with minimal basic infrastructure. Thus, there is no sewage system, drinking water must be bought from vendors or carried from a nearby tap and if there is electricity, it is stolen from a passing cable.

To squat in many countries is in itself a crime; in others it is only seen as a civil conflict between the owner and the occupants. Property law and the state have traditionally favored the property owner. However, in many cases where squatters had de facto ownership, laws have been changed to legitimize their status. Squatters often claim rights over the spaces they have squatted by virtue of occupation, rather than ownership; in this sense, squatting is similar to (and potentially a necessary condition of) adverse possession, by which a possessor of real property without title may eventually gain legal title to the real property.



"Some of us can afford to live in Central Brighton............Alright alright central Brighton suburbs off The Drove, near the Hove border
Born Hove Ward, Buckingham Road Hospital Brighton England oh yes sir,"

 

[Buzzer]

My guess is that a "friend" at the council tipped them off. My advice - get on the blower to the police and council ASAP.

Also, knock on the door, have a chat with them and explain that you live next door. You won't cause them any trouble and you'd appreciate it if it were reciprocated. A smile will often go a long long way and MOST squatters are reasonable, clean(ish) people respectful of their neighbours. Good luck.

 

[HampshireSeagulls]

My guess is that a "friend" at the council tipped them off. My advice - get on the blower to the police and council ASAP.

Also, knock on the door, have a chat with them and explain that you live next door. You won't cause them any trouble and you'd appreciate it if it were reciprocated. A smile will often go a long long way and MOST squatters are reasonable, clean(ish) people respectful of their neighbours. Good luck.

They may be perfectly nice people who just can't raise the deposit for a house, or who have fallen on hard times. If it's a council property, then it could take the council bloody ages to get the right paperwork in place - if they have placed a notice in the window, they possibly have the "squatters toolkit", so they will know how to prolong the situation, and are not fly-by-night-shit-in-the-garden merchants.

If they look like they are into the Levellers and have a dog on a string, firebomb the fuckers.

 

[Buzzer]

They may be perfectly nice people who just can't raise the deposit for a house, or who have fallen on hard times. If it's a council property, then it could take the council bloody ages to get the right paperwork in place - if they have placed a notice in the window, they possibly have the "squatters toolkit", so they will know how to prolong the situation, and are not fly-by-night-shit-in-the-garden merchants.

If they look like they are into the Levellers and have a dog on a string, firebomb the fuckers.

True. Let's hope they're the former.

 

[Freddie Goodwin.]

I think it was all connected with the leaving familly, who came fron 'scoomb and the northern fat beardy git who was always up there using the disabled bay they managed to obtain. my guess is that it's one of their kids.

Anyway, to be a 'proper' squat somebody should stay there at all times. Well, they didn't and a guy from the council has just been up to board up the open window.

Will be interesting to see if they find another 'open' window.

 

[Freddie Goodwin.]

Update...

Stoned/drunk kid turns up off bus, tries to gain entry but window has been boarded up. My mrs asks him what he is doing, he says his mum (former tenent) has left some things in there. mrs tells him he can't get in to which he replies "squatters rights" so she tells him he's lost them as he's outside! kid goes off in huff.

So, connection with previous tenents, who are still council tenents and now in their 3rd home in little over a year. Wouldn't be surprised if it was the 'scoomb gypo who set it all up and printed out the "squatters rights" posters for them either.