Housing ourselves and others. 50 years of the Advisory Service for Squatters.
By The Advisory Service for Squatters. Illustration by Rory Robertson-Shaw.
Last October, the Advisory Service for Squatters celebrated its 50th anniversary, though squatting has been around much longer. In October 2024, we published the 15th edition of the famous Squatters Handbook, which had to be more detailed and complex than earlier editions.
Squatting used to be a mass movement; a way for almost anyone in need to house themselves or make space for social use, against the domination of buildings by money and power. But after decades of attacks, sacred property values have been gradually restored, patrolled by the law and the increasingly bloated security industry. In 2012, a law was passed to criminalise squatting in empty residential buildings in England and Wales.
Squatter Continua
Yet, squatting endures across London and major cities, as well as more quietly all across the country. Empty buildings and land continue to be requisitioned for housing, emergency shelters, social space, and growing spaces.
It's not impossible, even with the new laws; squatting is still legal in non-residential properties, and residential properties can be, and often are, occupied as a protest but not to live in. Another important fact is that if people have ever had a tenancy or a licence in a residential building, even if it has officially ended, the new squatting law does not apply to them, meaning that the new squatting laws cannot always be used by owners to remove people in this scenario.
Want to squat?
Squatting takes organising. You can’t do it on your own because there needs to always be someone at the house, at least until you know how the owners will react. Multiple people are also important for developing and sharing skills for opening places, keeping things together, resolving disputes, and meeting the usual requirements of social living. You might be fortunate and find an existing squat with space, but you’d have to be very lucky, friendly, or have a lot in common with those already living there. A good place to start is the monthly London practical squatters' evenings, which help bring people together and teach basic skills.
As well as a crew, you’ll need to find one (or two, as it’s always good to have a backup) of the thousands of empty non-residential properties. Government websites, such as the Valuation Office, can help confirm whether a building is residential, and local council planning registers can provide useful background information on buildings. Of course, there's a lot more to it. A good place to start is by talking to us.
Chipping away against abuse
In January we led a workshop on observing bailiffs to better challenge their illegal and unlawful activity. Along with our friends, we have had some successes in bringing cases against bailiffs and obtaining compensation for victims, but it takes a lot of work and, most importantly, clear evidence. We’ve also been working on ways to make sure people get notice of an eviction, instead of just finding a bunch of thugs smashing through their door at some unearthly hour.
An important part of squatting has always been the Legal Warning, put up to explain that someone is in the building and that it is therefore illegal to force entry. Originally, the notice referred to a law from 1381, designed for use against revolting peasants, and was later updated to include 1977 legislation (S6 Criminal Law Act 977). Since 2012, it has become more complicated, with many variants.
We are now recommending that crews have an email address they check regularly and that its included in the Legal Warning, so they are informed of any legal action with maximum notice. Whether you want to communicate with owners more generally about making a deal is up to you.
Most squats will end when the owners go to court and get a possession order. We can advise on defences you can put forward and mistakes made by the owners. Even without a defence, it can still be worth going to court and trying to get an order for notice of eviction, which can make a big difference to your last days or weeks in a property.
Bailiff Bother
As well as hassling and evicting squatters, bailiffs also do the same to tenants and to those in debt, though their powers are less in these circumstances. ACORN and London Renters Union, among others, are committed to fighting them. We’re part of a wider movement to make housing safe again.
The Advisory Service for Squatters is a collective of workers who have been running a daily advice service for squatters and homeless people since 1975. We can be contacted by email:
advice@squatter.org.uk
www.squatter.org.uk
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