Squatting

Our approach to dealing with squatting

If a squatter has moved into your home, you should contact the police immediately. The police have powers to enter residential properties to remove squatters. We will work alongside you and the police to help you regain access to your property and to secure it once the squatters have been removed.

If a squatter has moved into a neighbouring property that we own please let us know. We will contact the police, and work with them to remove the squatters, and secure the property to prevent the squatters re-entering.

What we mean by squatting

Squatting is when someone deliberately enters a property without permission and lives there. Squatting in a residential building is a criminal offence which can lead to 6 months in prison, a £5,000 fine, or both.

What you can expect from our service

If you ask us for copies of your tenancy agreement or rent statements so that you can prove to the police that you are the rightful tenant, we will provide these to you or send them directly to the police on the same working day.

We will arrange for the locks to be changed and provide you with new keys as soon as the squatters have been removed from the property, or within 24 hours if it is not possible to arrange for this to happen immediately.

What will happen after you have reported a squatter to us

We will arrange for a locksmith to be present when the police attend the property to remove the squatters, so that the locks can be changed immediately. If it is not possible to arrange for a locksmith to be present, we will arrange for the locks to be changed within 24 hours of being informed that the squatters have been removed.

If the squatters have damaged the doors or windows in a way that compromises the security of your home, we will help you to report the repairs so that they can be fixed as a matter of urgency.

How to contact us about squatting

If a squatter moves into your home (or another property owned by Octavia)  please contact the police immediately. Please contact your Resident Services Officer if you need help to deal with a squatter or if you have any questions about squatting.