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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Guide to stop squatters to be published online | Guide to stop squatters to be published online |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A guide for homeowners, aimed at stopping squatters "invading" their property, is being published online. | A guide for homeowners, aimed at stopping squatters "invading" their property, is being published online. |
| Housing Minister Grant Shapps says he wants to end the "anti-social, undesirable and unfair" practice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Squatting is a crime in Scotland. | Housing Minister Grant Shapps says he wants to end the "anti-social, undesirable and unfair" practice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Squatting is a crime in Scotland. |
| The guide outlining people's rights is a response to websites set up to help squatters get round the law. | The guide outlining people's rights is a response to websites set up to help squatters get round the law. |
| The Advisory Service for Squatters said Mr Shapps was "scaremongering". | The Advisory Service for Squatters said Mr Shapps was "scaremongering". |
| Changing locks | Changing locks |
| The minister told the BBC: "Squatting is antisocial, undesirable, and unfair on home owners who find they have their homes taken over. | The minister told the BBC: "Squatting is antisocial, undesirable, and unfair on home owners who find they have their homes taken over. |
| "This government is not prepared to stand that situation continuing, and in particular we're keen to provide better advice for people who find that they are victims of squatters as well." | "This government is not prepared to stand that situation continuing, and in particular we're keen to provide better advice for people who find that they are victims of squatters as well." |
| He said it was a "huge issue" for families who found squatters had invaded and said it could be very difficult for landlords to remove them. | He said it was a "huge issue" for families who found squatters had invaded and said it could be very difficult for landlords to remove them. |
| Mr Shapps took aim at the ASS, which according to its website "provides legal and practical advice to squatters and other homeless people". | Mr Shapps took aim at the ASS, which according to its website "provides legal and practical advice to squatters and other homeless people". |
| He said: "Surprisingly, there's an awful lot of advice out there for squatters, including a squatters advice line - an office almost acting as an estate agent for squatters... but actually very little help for people who find they're the victim." | He said: "Surprisingly, there's an awful lot of advice out there for squatters, including a squatters advice line - an office almost acting as an estate agent for squatters... but actually very little help for people who find they're the victim." |
| He criticised the advice to potential squatters such as changing locks, refusing to open the door to police, sending themselves letters to persuade the authorities the property belongs to them, and leaving the radio on so neighbours think they are still inside. | He criticised the advice to potential squatters such as changing locks, refusing to open the door to police, sending themselves letters to persuade the authorities the property belongs to them, and leaving the radio on so neighbours think they are still inside. |
| "Ask someone to look out for your property if you go away," he advised. | "Ask someone to look out for your property if you go away," he advised. |
| "It shouldn't be that the squatters get the upper hand, that's happening far too often at the moment and the government is determined to put people back in charge of their own property." | "It shouldn't be that the squatters get the upper hand, that's happening far too often at the moment and the government is determined to put people back in charge of their own property." |
| But Katharine Hibbert, a former squatter who works informally for the ASS, said Mr Shapps was scaremongering as squatters "do not and cannot invade [people's] homes". | But Katharine Hibbert, a former squatter who works informally for the ASS, said Mr Shapps was scaremongering as squatters "do not and cannot invade [people's] homes". |
| She said the ASS advised every homeless and vulnerably housed person who contacted them to seek out buildings which had been genuinely abandoned, and were likely to remain empty for some time. | She said the ASS advised every homeless and vulnerably housed person who contacted them to seek out buildings which had been genuinely abandoned, and were likely to remain empty for some time. |
| She said the ASS did not maintain or publish lists of empty properties, simply gave people advice on their housing options. | She said the ASS did not maintain or publish lists of empty properties, simply gave people advice on their housing options. |
| A squatter living in a pub in London told the BBC he could not afford rent in the city while he looked for work. | A squatter living in a pub in London told the BBC he could not afford rent in the city while he looked for work. |
| The Latvian national, giving his name as Jason, he said there were lots of empty properties around. | The Latvian national, giving his name as Jason, he said there were lots of empty properties around. |
| "Well, I just walk around the area I want to live and then I find houses which look empty and I check them over a period of time and see if they're really empty," he said. | "Well, I just walk around the area I want to live and then I find houses which look empty and I check them over a period of time and see if they're really empty," he said. |
| "It's better than people living on the street. I mean most squatters live, like, normally, not like damaging stuff." | "It's better than people living on the street. I mean most squatters live, like, normally, not like damaging stuff." |
| In Scotland, squatting is a criminal as well as a civil offence but in England, Wales and Northern Ireland it is a civil offence only. | In Scotland, squatting is a criminal as well as a civil offence but in England, Wales and Northern Ireland it is a civil offence only. |
| In Scotland, owners can evict squatters without notice and they could face a fine or a prison sentence. | In Scotland, owners can evict squatters without notice and they could face a fine or a prison sentence. |
| Have you been affected by squatting? Or are you a squatter? You can send us your comments using the form below: |