By Daniel Martin
31 August 2012
Squatters’ rights will be scrapped from tomorrow, and a new law will mean those who invade private homes face six months in jail.
Until now, police could not evict squatters as soon as they moved in, so a homeowner’s main option to get them out was through a civil court order – which could be time consuming, expensive and stressful.
The introduction of the criminal offence of squatting, which carries a prison sentence, a £5,000 fine or both, follows a Government consultation last summer and means police can arrest squatters immediately.
Housing minister Grant Shapps said: ‘No longer will there be so-called "squatters’ rights".
'We're tipping the scales of justice back in favour of the homeowner and making the law crystal clear: entering a property with the intention of squatting will be a criminal offence.
Justice minister Crispin Blunt said: 'For too long, squatters have had the justice system on the run and have caused homeowners untold misery in eviction, repair and clean-up costs. Not anymore.
'Hard-working homeowners need and deserve a justice system where their rights come first - this new offence will ensure the police and other agencies can take quick and decisive action to deal with the misery of squatting.'
Chief Constable Phil Gormley, from the Association of Chief Police Officers, said: 'Police can now act immediately and remove squatters directly from properties in line with the new legislation and ensure people's homes are protected.'
The new offence will protect homeowners or legitimate tenants who have been excluded from their homes.
It will also protect those who own residential buildings that they don't live in, such as landlords, local authorities or second home owners.
Previously, their only option was to seek a civil court order to regain possession of their properties, which could be time consuming, expensive and stressful.
But homeless charity Crisis said the new law would criminalise vulnerable people, leaving them in prison or facing a fine they cannot pay.
'It also misses the point,' said Leslie Morphy, the charity's chief executive.
'There was already legal provision that police and councils could, and should, have used to remove individuals in the rare instances of squatting in someone's home.
'And the new law also applies to empty homes - of which there are 720,000 in England alone, including many that are dilapidated and abandoned - criminalising homeless people when they are just trying to find a place off the streets.'
She went on: 'It will do nothing to address the underlying reasons why vulnerable people squat in the first place - their homelessness and a lack of affordable housing.
'Ultimately the Government needs to tackle why homeless people squat in the first place by helping not punishing them.'
Mr Shapps also launched a clampdown on rogue landlords to bring an end to 'suburban shanty towns' that trap vulnerable people in dangerous living conditions.
He launched new guidance for councils making clear the wide range of powers at their disposal shut down so-called 'beds in sheds' that blight neigbourhoods.
[ed. About time...]
