Land Registry
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Squatting is when someone deliberately enters property without permission and lives there, or intends to live there. This is sometimes known as adverse possession.
Squatting in residential buildings (like a house or flat) is illegal. It can lead to 6 months in prison, a 5,000 fine or both.
Anyone who originally enters a property with the permission of the landlord is not a squatter. For example, if youre renting a property and fall behind with rent payments youre not squatting if you continue to live there.
Although squatting in non-residential building or land is not in itself a crime, its a crime to damage the property.
Its usually a crime not to leave land or property when youre instructed to do so by:
- the owner
- the police
- the council
- a repossession order