Squatting

[flip_flop]

Should squatting be considered a criminal offence?

[NOX]

No squating itself should not be illegal, if a building is unused and someone is homeless what do you expect them to do? I have houses which I rent out and have had squatters in the past, and turned them into tenants. A lot of people are forced to squat because of the benefit situation and the large preponderance of private landlords who insist on bank references and so on which these people simply don't have because of other unfortunate situations in their lives. It may not be illegal to leave a perfectly good house empty but it's certainly immoral.

[flip_flop]

....but not all are JtH

[jackthehat]

Hence my use of the word 'most'........

I agree with Nox.

I can't think of many good reasons why a perfectly serviceable house should remain unoccupied for several years, can you ?

[flip_flop]

JtH my post above was in response to your use of the word 'most'.

My original post was concerned with squatters who have taken over occupied properties - although granted my question didn't make this clear.

But that aside, if I had a property that was empty, and I chose to keep it empty, that would be entirely my choice - there would be nothing remotely immoral about this.

[jackthehat]

'Most' implies a majority, not a totality; so your 12.34 post wasn't really necessary.

At a time when there is a shortage of housing, I am amazed by the number of empty properties simply kept empty by the inertia of the owners.

Aside from the 'mine, all mine!' argument, what can be the rational reason?

[flip_flop]

Quite - but I felt it was worth emphasising that not all squatters occupy unoccupied properties.

I can't think of a reason either - but if somebody chooses to keep a property they own unoccupied, that is entirely their choice and is not immoral.

[Rapunzel61]

for what ever reason a house is left unused, it shouldn't be allowed to let any body think they have the right to move in without permission of the owners, full stop.

[LoftyLottie]

I agree with Rapunzel. My property is my property, whether it be my first home, my second home or my third home. It belongs to me and, without permission, noone should have any rights over it.

(I would point out that I haven't got three homes)

If I leave my car on my drive without using it for six months I would not expect people to feel they had every right to use it.

And yes, I think it should be a criminal offence.

[DrFilth]

some houses are left empty for years, some can then start to damage the property next to them

the council has had to step in and put a compulsory purchase order on the property to help people who are having trouble with the empty property.

[youngmafbog]

Jack it is hard to see the reason in many cases, I rent out properties and I can assure you that I get them re let asap.
However to argue against previous posts wherby it seems it is ok to occupy an unoccupied house where the owner does not live, how do you work this out in the case say where one tennat moves out and another cannot be found. I have been in this situation and it is not for want of trying to find a tennant, sometimes they just dont want to know.

[LoftyLottie]

I agree Dr Filfth, but that is nothing to do with Squatting. That is a different question altogether.

[cazzz1975]

I agree with nox in that estate agents and private landlords make it difficult for a lot of disadvantaged people to rent properties by demanding large deposits, guarantors and statements. some of these deposits are thousands of pounds!

[jackthehat]

I doubt whether I shall ever be able to afford a property other than the one in which I live.
However, if that was the case, having unwelcome and uninvited residents would not arise because I would certainly ensure that it was occupied to both our benefits.

[LoftyLottie]

So if you owned a holiday cottage that was occupied for 9 months of the year Jack, would you be happy if Squatters moved in for three months and stopped your means of income. I refuse to believe that squatters only move in if they can't find rented accommodation. Most probably don't want to pay for accommodation.

[jackthehat]

I wouldn't dream of owning a Holiday Cottage, Lottie; it is that situation which is causing housing problems in the 'young-marrieds' sector who have the misfortune to have grown-up in 'desirable' areas.

The squatting problem is a thorny issue but something needs to be done and if owners can be prevailed upon to open their empty properties for people (who would otherwise be homeless) to live in, it may go some way to alleviating the problem.

[LoftyLottie]

But Jack a holiday cottage that is let out to people for holidays for most of the year fulfills a need surely. A great deal of people can only afford this type of holiday?

If I could afford a holiday cottage in Portugal for my own personal use I would certainly buy onhe.

As you know I live in a very rural area. The cottages which are second homes are generally those that stood empty and derelict for years. The youngsters didn't want them - they want modern properties in the towns not cottages in the country. When we moved here 30+ years ago we bought such a derelict cottage and spent a year of hard graft doing it up with our own fair hands. The locals weren't interested. They then complain about people coming into the area and buying up village properties.

No squatters would want to live where I live!!!! ;o)

[jackthehat]

I entirely understand your points, Lottie.

But squatting seems to be more of a problem in Urban areas.

[LoftyLottie]

Probably JTH.

Most second homes however are in rural, coastal areas.

And yes, there are loads of empty properties in cities, probably where the owners aren't even known.

[emmie]

Yes

[craft1948]

Yes it should be a criminal offence. If I have 2 homes, bought with my own hard earned cash, and live in one for 9 months of the year, and one for 3 months, why should anyone have the right to invade either of the properties I have bought. Although I'm normally a law abiding citizen I would not go to the law to sort out the situation............