Squatters!

[longfingernails]

I think the government should make squatting in England and Wales a criminal offence without delay. It is already a criminal offence in Scotland. Forget publishing "advice", Mr Shapps!

It is galling that a "Squatters Advisory Service" is even allowed to exist.

How can it possibly be non-criminal to just take over someone else's property, and change the locks?

they've probably realised that once their cuts come into full force and people start to become homeless the squatter "population" will rise, so making it a criminal offence would only mean more money spent in the court

There is never any excuse for squatting.

well tbh if I were homeless I'd consider squatting in an empty property - would beat living on the streets - especially at this time of year

I'd squat if on the streets too.

I don't approve of squatting, but yeah with the cuts homeowners had better get used to it.

Don't approve in general of squatting BUT there are ALOT of empty unused houses. properties in this country and THAT should also be dealt with.

In an area where I went to University there had been a compulsory purchase of a huge road of gorgeous edwardian semi detached houses to build a new road, project cancelled houses stood empty for at least 10 years.

Loads of my friends squatted in them.

Tbh, if somebody owns a house but can't even be bothered to live in it themselves or rent it out to somebody, then they should get squatters. It is just an indication of how fucked up society is that some people can own houses that they leave empty for years and step over homeless people in the street.

I'd be squatting if it wasn't for the kids. Empty homes are a bloody scandal when there are so many families and people in general living in unsuitable conditions or struggling to pay over inflated rents to rubbish landlords.

I know there are plenty of good landlords out there, but far more seem to just see it as easy money and a purely financial transaction, they don't expect to have to keep their houses in good repair or allow tenants to treat them as what they are - their homes.

oh yes Giddy agree a distinction needs to be made like you describe.

I'd charge triple council tax on houses unoccupied for more than about three months (obv there would be the odd exemption - eg people in hospital etc).

That might sort them out, and if not the money could go towards buying up houses to use as social housing in "normal" streets so that poverty ghettoes stopped happening.

Squatting is a symptom, not a cause, of the fucked up housing situation.

The way to get empty properties back in use is to put big taxes on them so owners either find tenants, or sell up.

Squatting is not a valid alternative.

I think that houses that are left empty should be squatted in. If there is such a housing shortgae and somone cant be arsed to look after a house they never even think about why shouldnt it be used by someone who needs it.

My parents squatted with three kids when I was 5 or 6. Never did me any harm

Wish I was a squatter, theres 4 Victorian posh houses up the road, got good connections close to the shops, all of em have been bordered up by the council for at least 8 years.

Ryoko- squat them! Or post a tipoff on a squatter/activist forum - you might get a lovely arts collective or something, or at least something more exciting than boarded up houses.

I can't believe people are actually condoning and encouraging this parasitic behaviour.

longfinger - imagine (just for a second) that you found yourself homeless. Council couldn't/wouldn't help you.

You know of a house that's stood empty for years. You telling me that you wouldn't even be tempted to squat there?

I tell you what - when I look outside at the weather today I know I damn well would be.

Squatting should be made a criminal offence. I don't see how anyone can justify it. Somebody else owns the property and they have the right to do what they want with it.

If we are concerned about large numbers of vacant properties forcing house prices and rentals higher than necessary, we can legislate in property taxes to "encourage" owners to sell or let them.

MaMoTTaT Theft is theft.

Stealing someone's house should carry much bigger penalties than stealing a car, or stealing sweets from a papershop. Yet somehow, it isn't even a criminal offence!

Somebody else might own the property but they are doing fuck all with em except leaving them to rot and I'm sure most the places are owned by councils who couldn't care less, or belonged to companies that have gone bust etc, rather then living breathing people who are happy to watch the place turn into a pigeon coup.

Stealing a car?

what if said car had been parked in the same place for 3 years, slowly turning into a rust bucket with an expired Tax disc on it, are the council allowed to remove that abandoned car or do they have to leave it because it belongs to someone who could be dead or in prison for murder or long gone.

Totally agree with Giddy, there needs to be a distinction.

Squatting is illegal in Scotland, isn't it?

Agree with most of the other posters.. If a house has been left empty for years, then of course someone should be able to move in on it,they'd probably me doing the owners a favour actually, by airing,and keeping the place warm,and giving the house a bloody purpose!

Am not 100pc certain, but i did hear a couple of years back that the local council here in Wales, had secured the right to insist the owners of 'abandoned' properties either sell,or do up and rent out(under the heading of affordable housing), or the property could be 'seized' by the housing dept.Certainly in that time nearly all the previously abandoned cottages(for years and years) have suddenly been renovated!.. A good idea eh?

Can't see whats wrong with squatting in a property that's been abandoned. Totally agree with Giddypickle.