Squatters living in your unoccupied property?

October 2011

The possibility of squatters entering an empty property is enough to make any landlord or homeowner quake in their boots, facing a long period of untold misery and worry.

Squatting has become a way of life for a growing number of people in the UK due mainly to sky high property prices and soaring rents. The latest Government figures (as of October 2011) estimate the number of squatters in the UK at 20,000 although the reality of this is probably much higher.

How do I keep squatters out?

Squatters cannot (legally) force their way into your property, should they do so then they can be prosecuted for criminal damage. Security is therefore very important, so make sure all doors and windows are locked and the keys removed from the locks. Set your alarm system if you have one and ask friendly neighbours to keep an eye on the property for you if you cannot do so yourself.

What should I do if I discover squatters in my property?

Much of the difficulty surrounding squatters occupying a property is that the owner of the property does not know whether he is dealing with a civil or a criminal matter. One of the most important steps is to make contact with the persons in occupation to determine their intentions. Occasionally you can come to an agreement for them to leave amicably after a court order is obtained. Most of the time however they will be willing to continue their occupation whilst you follow more serious actions involving a county court officer or bailiff to regain possession of the property.How can I protect myself?It can be extremely expensive to legally remove squatters from a property with fees sometimes running into tens of thousands of pounds and possessions orders taking weeks, if not months to obtain. A new insurance product has recently been launched to the market which provides legal expenses cover for the eviction of squatters.

This policy provides up to £50,000 of legal costs and is suitable for most types of property. There is no excess and the premium is very affordable. It is a small price to pay for peace of mind and saves the potential of many thousands of pounds that would otherwise be lost in the absence of an insurance policy.

The policy is offered by the Worthing office of Green Insurance Group, telephone 01903 236788 - option 3.

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