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There are thousands of empty properties, some of which are more obvious than others. The most obvious are the ones with steel doors, which can be hard to get through, but boards, or general abandoned look are a good sign. Look around and ask around. Local squatters’ groups and ASS have lists of empty properties, but rely on everyone to keep them up to date. Make sure the place is actually empty before doing anything.

If you are looking at a house, it is best to squat one that has been empty for at least two or three months i.e. a little bit run down. You will probably be able to live there longer.

Many empty properties can be walked straight into, as they have become insecure through vandalism. It is an offence to break into an empty property if anything you do can be classed as “criminal damage”. In theory therefore, the police can only arrest you if they catch you “red-handed”, e.g. with a crowbar in your hand, or if there are witnesses.

Thus in general it’s best to try and find access through a broken window or door. Some squatters have been known to jemmy open doors and windows but we would not of course recommend this. Nor would we recommened doing in daytime wearing overalls so that peope will be less alarmed..

Who Owns the Place?

If you need somewhere now, don’t worry too much about finding out who owns the place before you occupy it – just go for it. Otherwise, or once you’re in, it can be useful to know. Keep all letters, especially for previous tenants as these can give you some idea who the place belongs to and why the previous tenants left. All this information may help you stay longer in your home if your case comes to court – call ASS for more information on this.

An Estate Agent sign will probably mean it is privately owned. The local authority Planning Department keeps records of all planning applications for each address in its borough. These records are for public scrutiny and usually arranged in alphabetical order by street or block name. Each application will have the applicant’s name i.e. the owner or property agent.

Her Majesty’s Land Registry keeps an open register of ownership of properties that you can consult for £5. You will need Form 313 which you can get from local libraries, CABx etc. or call the main office on 0207 917 8888. Often the best way to find out who owns a property is to ask local people such as trustworthy neighbours.

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