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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/dec/01/squatters-evicted-from-building-of-company-that-works-to-stop-squatting
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| Squatters evicted from building of company that works to stop squatting | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| More than 20 squatters who have been occupying the former headquarters of a property management company that works to keep squatters out of empty buildings, have been evicted. | More than 20 squatters who have been occupying the former headquarters of a property management company that works to keep squatters out of empty buildings, have been evicted. |
| The group who moved into the former head office of Camelot Europe in Shoreditch, east London two months ago to highlight housing inequality, were evicted by bailiffs just after 11am on Thursday. | The group who moved into the former head office of Camelot Europe in Shoreditch, east London two months ago to highlight housing inequality, were evicted by bailiffs just after 11am on Thursday. |
| Camelot provides property guardians who look after empty buildings, generally at lower rents. But the squatters say property guardians do not get a good deal from companies such as Camelot and do not have full tenancy rights. The activists say they also want to highlight Britain’s homelessness crisis. | Camelot provides property guardians who look after empty buildings, generally at lower rents. But the squatters say property guardians do not get a good deal from companies such as Camelot and do not have full tenancy rights. The activists say they also want to highlight Britain’s homelessness crisis. |
| “We received a lot of support for this occupation. We offered yoga workshops, tea and coffee, exhibitions about homelessness and we had a recording studio facilitating young musicians to make music,” said one of the squatters, Rich. “It’s ridiculous that there are so many homeless people on the streets while at the same time there are so many empty buildings like this one.” | “We received a lot of support for this occupation. We offered yoga workshops, tea and coffee, exhibitions about homelessness and we had a recording studio facilitating young musicians to make music,” said one of the squatters, Rich. “It’s ridiculous that there are so many homeless people on the streets while at the same time there are so many empty buildings like this one.” |
| The squatters say that as a result of the surprise eviction they will all be homeless on Thursday night in sub-zero temperatures. | The squatters say that as a result of the surprise eviction they will all be homeless on Thursday night in sub-zero temperatures. |
| Police had cordoned off the street while high court bailiffs moved the occupiers out of the building, and the eviction passed off peacefully. Notices were pinned to windows of the building saying that a writ of possession was obtained from the high court on 24 November giving Camelot permission to remove the “unlawful occupants” on 1 December. | Police had cordoned off the street while high court bailiffs moved the occupiers out of the building, and the eviction passed off peacefully. Notices were pinned to windows of the building saying that a writ of possession was obtained from the high court on 24 November giving Camelot permission to remove the “unlawful occupants” on 1 December. |
| The squatters were dismayed about being removed from their temporary home and said they had no knowledge that the writ had been granted until enforcement officers forced one of the doors and asked them to leave. | The squatters were dismayed about being removed from their temporary home and said they had no knowledge that the writ had been granted until enforcement officers forced one of the doors and asked them to leave. |
| When the squatters first occupied the property, Frank Freeman, another of the activists, had said: “We are doing this on behalf of dispossessed, homeless people and guardians who are being exploited. London is built on culture, but artists and creative people can no longer afford to live here. It is becoming a sterile and unaffordable place.” | When the squatters first occupied the property, Frank Freeman, another of the activists, had said: “We are doing this on behalf of dispossessed, homeless people and guardians who are being exploited. London is built on culture, but artists and creative people can no longer afford to live here. It is becoming a sterile and unaffordable place.” |
| Camelot’s chief operating officer, Mike Goldsmith, previously offered the squatters a deal: leave the occupied building in return for permission to use it as an arts and culture space. But the squatters rejected his offer and continued their occupation. | Camelot’s chief operating officer, Mike Goldsmith, previously offered the squatters a deal: leave the occupied building in return for permission to use it as an arts and culture space. But the squatters rejected his offer and continued their occupation. |
| “What Camelot didn’t make clear when the deal was first offered was that we had to agree to a number of restrictions. The first would have been to remove any displays about the issues of homelessness and property guardianship – the reasons for occupying this office in the first place,” said Freeman. | “What Camelot didn’t make clear when the deal was first offered was that we had to agree to a number of restrictions. The first would have been to remove any displays about the issues of homelessness and property guardianship – the reasons for occupying this office in the first place,” said Freeman. |
| Goldsmith said Camelot would continue to help promote the arts and culture across London, irrespective of the squatters’ decision. He added: “Guardian companies are often portrayed as being exploitative, but Camelot has a dedicated team who want to continue to provide a cost-effective solution as an alternative to rocketing housing costs. Camelot abide by all legal requirements for notice periods and endeavour to keep the cost of guardian living well below the market rental rate.” | Goldsmith said Camelot would continue to help promote the arts and culture across London, irrespective of the squatters’ decision. He added: “Guardian companies are often portrayed as being exploitative, but Camelot has a dedicated team who want to continue to provide a cost-effective solution as an alternative to rocketing housing costs. Camelot abide by all legal requirements for notice periods and endeavour to keep the cost of guardian living well below the market rental rate.” |
| Camelot was contacted for comment about today’s eviction but has not yet responded. | Camelot was contacted for comment about today’s eviction but has not yet responded. |
| Despite losing their temporary home the squatters said they would continue to occupy empty buildings. | Despite losing their temporary home the squatters said they would continue to occupy empty buildings. |
| “We want to find a big place for Christmas so that we can provide shelter for lots of homeless people who will be on the streets during the festive season. We particularly like Victorian architecture and will try to find that kind of empty property.” | “We want to find a big place for Christmas so that we can provide shelter for lots of homeless people who will be on the streets during the festive season. We particularly like Victorian architecture and will try to find that kind of empty property.” |