How does one get rid of squatters?

My friend had an empty property, before a bunch of squatters occupied it. What is the best way to get rid or them (no jokes please)? Is the procedure really long and involving the police? What are the squatters' legal rights?

Squatters have no legal rights. They are trespassing on private property. Get the police out there to send them packing. And have her post No Trespassing signs. The longer they are there, the more they will feel that they own the place, so immediate action is best. Don't let them settle in and get comfortable, it will be that much harder to get them to leave. they may try to return after they have been given the boot, so she may want to install an alarm or some other type of deterrent. Maybe some German shepherds or Doberman pinschers....

I live in Belfast, and there is no way a squatter would attempt to squat in my house, they dont like hobbling along on smashed knee caps, if you get my message. Alternative method which works is to obtain tne services of 2 heavies who "request" them to vacate the property in 24 hours. Don't even think of going to the cops, they are there to protect the offenders human rights.

do they ever leave the house if so when they are all out change all the locks and make sure the property is secure if not try to get them all to leave the house at one time im sure you can come up with something dont forget to put all their stuff outside before you change the locks once your sure its secure go away on holiday for a week this gives them the message to move on tell the local police youve had problems with break ins and they will move on any shady characters while your gone

Get the heavies in and kick some @ss

If you are in the UK you need a County Court Order to remove them. Ideally you should get a solicitor onto this but it can be done without and the court staff will advise your friend.

The police are the only way to go. they may give you some other advice.

if they broke in to the premises then they have no rights whatsoever, call the police, but you will need to demonstrate that they broke in (signs of damage to windows / locks helps), failing that its a long drawn out legal process.

its a property issue - do your friend a favour get her to tak profesional legal advice (or failing that CAB). mistakes in property can cost vast amounts of money - its possible to loose the property alltogether if incorrect steps are taken, or steps are missed out.

The procedure may take a long long time, it may be relatively quick. it may actually be sensible for your friend to consider making a payment to get the squatters out (but dont offer it upfront, just think about what its goinf to cost to get shot of the squatters in terms of lost rent / sales / interest etc)

in any event your friend must start the ball rolling as soon as possible by reporting the matter to the police, and getting professional advice (unlike the advice hear which you dont know the accuracy or reliability od) - at least if your lawyers screws up you have the vague chance of soem redress.

smoke bomb!!

burn the house down when they are not in there ..................

it is a pain

If you cannot get them to leave, give them what they want: Lock them in - barricade the windows and doors and wait about 3 months - ensure the water supply is disconnected.

Go round there with a load of heavies, the police wont do much about it.

You need to go to the courts to have them evicted under the squatters rights.
Other people contact the police but they can only do so much. There are certain companies in London that will evict squatters and board the place up.
It may be an idea to contact your local council and they sometime have a team that goes with the police to get them out

Yes, it is a long process. Squatters rights only kick in if they have been living in and maintaining the property as though it were their own for twelve years.

There is an offence of violence to a secure entry, which will cause problems. This makes it illegal to break down the door (even to your own property) if somebody inside is opposed to the action.

There are two main ways to play it. The legal way is costly and time consuming and therefore frustrating. It involves get eviction notices and eventually having the squatters legally removed.

The second way is the faster, more effective way - the illegal way. This involves several of your hardest mates hoofing the door in at 5am and threatening to torch the place if the squatters aren't all out in ten minutes. You do, of course run the risk of somebody calling the police, especially if they call your bluff and you actually have to ignite a few of them.

There is, however, a middle way - which involves being sneaky. They can't stay in the house all the time - unless they're very organised and have a shift system going. Simply wait until they go out to sign on, or buy drugs, etc. and then hoof the door in, chuck all their stuff into a skip and change the locks. To do this effectively you need to hire the skip the day before, have a 24hr locksmith wiating round the corner and a security firm ready to guard the property for a week after the event. Again this is costly, but effective - and legal.

In the unlikely event of them running a shift system, you will have to either reason with them and hope they agree to move in, or con them into letting you in to be able to start chucking their things out. If you do this, take some security with you, so they can't stop you and if the olice are called, you won't be arrested.

Good luck.

Create a cleanable health hazard (get the local kids to chuck dog turd through the windows and pay them 5 ciggys per load).....they will soon move out.

beat then up.

This is what you do, call the police when you know they are there, tell them that people are trespassing or squatting in your property. They will have to explain why they are there at which point you can tell them to prove that they legally live there. When they can not provide rent reciepts and or a lease aggreement the police should remove them at which point you can secure the property. They will most likely have crack cocaine so the police can arrest them for that.

She needs to get proper legal advice.

Sadly, they will be very aware of their rights and you can't just drag them out by their hair!!

Things are slightly different, I believe, if they broke into the property.

you really need to call the police or demolish them!!!

get the police in or you could always change locks when they are out or get some big burly scottish man to ask them politely to leave

Always go the legal route and tough on your friend because of what it might cost but if they have enough money to have a property and it is not where they live, they will be able to get it sorted in a legal way

I'm not sure what their legal rights are but bombardment with stink bombs may have some effect

give the a good hiding, and let them know what's good for them!

shotgun

along the lines of Polly pock, make the building a health hazard. release rats in their and leave loads of food scraps in the garden or yard to attract more rats. If that doesnt make them leave, then the rats will soon escalate, the neighbours will be on to the council, the council will be onto you. Then you can make it clear to the council that you are unable to address the problem as there are squatters there, they will have to act in the interest of public safety, job done!

Based on my experience:
If he does not know their names, he must make enquires and if unsuccessful, this is stated in the application for a possession order at the county court. The clerk of court will generally help with the drafting the possession order that he may serve himself. This will not normally be accepted by the squatters and has to be nailed to the door.

Good Luck

Useful Legal guide:
http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/squatters....

The enemy website:
http://www.schnews.org.uk/diyguide/squat...

They have no legal rights to be there. call your local police department and have them arrested. If that is to harsh for you, get resources from your Social Service Agency for shelters and give them the information when you tell them they have to leave.

seriously, get a group together and physically move them and their things out, stay calm and make sure they realise that you and the 50 friends you have brought with you mean buisness.

legal rights will mean your legal rights are meaningless, if they complain that you have moved them out without warning deny all knowledge

Go to a pub and find some likely lads who are willing to @move them on for a little cash in hand, police will do absolutely nothing!!
Police actually advised me to do this!

Ask the Police to remove them xx

Help them find somewhere more suitable to live. Give them a job renovating your property. Perhaps they could become your paid property developers?

What are the squatters human rights which are being abused by society? Why are they squatting?