Prop-Manage supports recent pressure on Justice Secretary, Chris Grayling, to outlaw squatting in commercial property.
Last year, squatting in residential property was made a criminal offence as the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act received royal assent. Since then, the industry has been calling for the law to be bought into line to cover commercial premises.
Three senior politicians have recently joined the chorus of those calling for criminalisation of squatting in commercial properties. Chuka Umunna, the shadow business secretary; former minister Dame Tessa Jowell; and Lib Peck, leader of Lambeth Council, have written to the Justice Secretary asking for the change in the law. In their letter, the three claimed that there had been an increase in the number of squatters ‘now specifically targeting non-residential buildings’.
In their letter, the politicians highlighted an example of squatting which has cost the owners dearly. A group that had been evicted from the local Buddhist Temple took over 111 Westminster Bridge Road, where they were later joined by other groups of squatters. The building’s assets were removed and sold, while there was one allegation of rape and a series of violent assaults during the eight-week duration of the squat. Developers faced clean-up bills of at least £100,000.
David Robbins Bsc MRICS, Head of Management at Prop-Manage, comments: “At present, businesses with an empty property are concerned that they not only have to pay full business rates, but that they also have to spend significant sums of money securing their premises and could face lengthy and costly legal proceedings to evict squatters.”
Squatting in residential buildings became a criminal offence in England and Wales on 1 September 2012. The offence is committed where a person in a residential building as a trespasser, having entered as a trespasser, knows or ought to know that he or she is trespassing and is living in the building or intends to live there for any period. Individuals can face up to six months in prison and a £5,000 fine if found guilty of the offence.
The Justice Secretary, Chris Grayling, is said to be ‘sympathetic to the problem’ of commercial property squatters and has begun gathering evidence about the impact and scale of squatting in commercial property since the law changed.
Prop-Manage is advising commercial property owners of empty premises to take immediate action to ensure they reduce the risk of being targeted by squatters:
· Ensure properties are as secure as possible, including buildings, yards and car parks
· Remove any items of value
· Change locks, alarm codes etc
· Consider using an intruder device with motion detectors, CCTV, monitored webcams
· Electricity supplies are de-energised so that if squatters take up residence, they are not racking up bills in the owner’s name
· Arrange for frequent internal inspections
