Belvoir Sheffield, the leading letting agent in Sheffield, has praised Government initiatives to took make squatting a criminal offence by incorporating it into the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill 2011, after the issue become an increasing concern for landlords over the last few years.
For many years, squatting has been an emotive issue - and, although still quite rare, a subject of real concern to residential landlords, but towards the end of 2011, the Government decided to take action.
Squatters move into empty properties and take over occupation without obtaining the permission of the owner, their agent or the person legally entitled to live there. They can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage and it is almost impossible for landlords to successfully claim for damages, since the perpetrators more often than not have limited financial means.
Rick Flay, Director at Belvoir Sheffield, who offer a wide range of homes to rent in Sheffield, said: “It’s a very significant move and a welcome result for our industry. Squatting can have a devastating effect on a landlord’s business and it can bevery difficult, time-consuming and expensive for them to remove squatters fromtheir properties. Regaining possession can be a long and drawn out process andit creates real problems when trying to re-let a property to a potential new tenant.”
Rick, whose letting agency on Campo Lane inSheffield, specialises in providing flats to let in Sheffield, added: “Whilst it is notnecessarily widespread in our region, squatting has been a growing problem nationally and an issue we have taken a great deal of interest in, to help protect our landlord clients.”
In Scotland,squatting has been a criminal offence for over 150 years and anyone found guilty can be sentenced to up to 21 days in jail. Unfortunately, this has not been the case in England and Wales. Owners have had to use civil courts to enforce their rights.
A2010 UK Bailiff Company report, which found a 40 per-cent rise in squatting eviction cases and a staggering 132 per-cent rise in squatting over a 15 year period, heightened the collective anxiety of the private rented sector.
Belvoir Sheffield, along with over 140 other Belvoir offices throughout the UK, has backed a long running lobby to get the law changed. The campaign was spearheaded by the UK’s largest industry bodies, the National Landlords Association and the Residential Landlords Association and taken up by MP Mike Weatherly, who proposed a motion in March of last year.
Rick continued: “We welcome the government’s decision to criminalise squatting. We will continue to support the industry bodies – who are pushing for further clarification on issues surrounding immediate re-possession of property, so that our clients can build their property portfolios without hindrance from unwanted trespassers.
“Despite this latest development, we question whether the measures address the root cause of the problem and until then must advise anyone with a rental property to remain vigilant and take sensible measures to protect it.”
If it is impossible to maintain your property from a distance then employ a maintenance company, or a specialist lettings agency, such as Belvoir, to do it for you.
“Preventing an empty property from squatter invasion is no easy task. If you haven’t covered all the bases and the squatters are determined enough, then they will get in. But you can reduce the risk substantially by following our advice. If it enables you to bridge the gap between vacancy and rental income then it is undoubtedly worth the effort.”
If landlords – or indeed tenants - would like further guidance or advice on how toprotect their properties then please call Belvoir Sheffield on 08452 60 40 90. One of our team will be happy to assist you.
Belvoir Lettings Agency Sheffield is the One Stop Specialists for Lettings including Property Management, Tenant Find, Investment and Wealth Management Advice, Fit-outs and Renovations, Furniture Packs and Investment Property Insurances and Mortgages.