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Why pay rent when you can squat? Save your cash for your next trip..

Squatting is the act of taking over an empty building and making it your home. There are various kinds of squats ranging from volunteer community centres to private homes to rather dodgy ‘open houses’ where all and sundry mix.

The latter are best avoided as they can be quite random affairs where your possessions and person may not be safe. Squatting is a perfectly respectable way of providing a roof over your head though and is only unique in the respect that you don’t pay rent.

In many places squatting is not actually a criminal offence. It’s a civil matter between you and the landlord. That said you really need to know what you are doing before you get started and this guide is your basic introduction.

The legal information given here is specific to the laws in England but many of the sections apply to the culture of squatting as a whole.

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