Harringay online

Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Hello

 

Overnight the house next door was broken into by squatters. They have put a notice in the window to the effect that they have a legal right to stay there and it looks like they have changed the locks.

Now I don't want to get all Daily Mail, kneejerk-reaction about this - I know that there are valid moral and political arguments in favour of squatting and I know that some squatters can be very good neighbours.

But it is making me a bit nervous. Should I do anything about it? Do I tell the police, or the council, or should I try to contact the owner?

 

Thanks!

Tags for Forum Posts: squatters

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Obvious thing, I suppose, is try to contact the owners if you know where they are.
Why don't you contact the squatters? They might not bite you and you could discuss any fears that you might have with them.

If the squatters broke anything getting in, that's criminal damage. If criminal damage can be proven the police can evict them immediately. If no damage has been done they are allowed to stay until a private prosecution can be upheld to evict. Be very careful not to interfere with due process.

I'm sure that contacting the squatters is a good idea. get dialogue going, you might even LIKE having them as neighbours, you don't know yet do you ?

The house next door was bought by a landlord who turned it into a nine bedroom virtual hostel, or unofficial HMO. Before all the work was done squatters moved in and stayed for several months until the landlord was able to kick them out. I much preferred the squatters to what ensued, they were quiet and polite unlike the nightmare of tenants produced by the rogue landlord.

Danzigger

 

Drop a line to Sgnt Jono of SNT and talk it through with him;

 

jono.d.clay-michael@met.police.uk

 

Danzigger

Could you E-mail us the address and landlord details to us if you have them and we will liaise with them and check this out and advise accordingly

Glyn

Hi Glyn

I don't have the landlords details. However I emailed Haringey Council and they have passed information on to the person registered for Council Tax

 

Dan

It is (number edited out by site admin*) Ritches Road N15

 

Thanks for your help

 

*Don't worry. We'll pass it on to Jono

If you want to e-mail me the address then I'd be happy to provide you with the owners details.  The property number has been removed from the post.

 

As far as I am aware it's up to the landlord to instigate possession proceedings against the unlawful occupants.  Presumably no tenancy has ever been entered into with the occupants, therefore proceedings are marginally faster.  An interim possession order can be applied for by the owner, which is relatively quick and simple, but bailiffs will no doubt be required and that could easily take a further 4-6 weeks from the date that the county court deals with the IPO.

NB If your squatters were acting like pro's with their squatting NVQs in place, they will not have broken into the place themselves, or they could be done for criminal damage. They will have found the door open, and looked in to protect the place from vandals, then liked it so much that they stayed.
I would want to know if someone busted into my property. Inform the police and they can pursue the owner.

Pop round and chat to them. You'll discover very quickly if they're going to be a problem, of if they're going to be nice people (albeit different) to live next door to.

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