Okay I find myself living in an ex-council flat that the landlord's lost possession of. I sub-letted it off Gumtree as a short-term let from a rogue tenant who it turned out hadn't passed on the rent to the landlord in five months. This guy then disappeared. I've been in the flat for six or seven weeks, the last couple of weeks for free. There's been a county court judgment returning possession to the landlady (whose nephew, a lawyer, manages the property) but we haven't had them come round, and haven't heard they're sending bailiffs. I don't think they realise the flat's occupied. But bailiffs are coming for the council tax and a private debt, and the gas will be cut off in ten days. I read if someone stays home that day we can get them to install a meter; but if we're out they'll change the locks and we're screwed. I wonder is this kind of property too "hot" and not worth squatting, because we won't keep hold of it for long. Should I just get out? Or should I try to get
just remember that you dont have to open the door to baylifs and you dont have to invite them in, if they are council baylifs they probably wont break in if you make sure they know there are people in the flat but arnt going to openthe dor to them. you might want to check out the advisory service for squaters, http://www.squatter.org.uk/
Thanks - I called round the advisory service the other day and got a copy of the Squatter's Handbook, which I found very interesting.
I guess it isn't a proper squat since it isn't an abandoned building. Still, I'm surprised that a month after winning a possession order in court they haven't been round to check out the situation. I'm sure they don't know we're there, but still.
I'm stressing about the gas being disconnected. And the owner could take it back any time as it's usually empty. I don't see a way round me and the girl being out most of the time - there's no Internet, no TV, nothing to do in the flat but sleep or eat, and anyways we both have jobs. Just enjoy it while it lasts, I think.
Okay, have you tried approaching the landlady or her nephew or her other representatives, explaining the situation and trying to make an arangement to become a lawfull tenant. Admitedly the nephew does deserve punishing for burying his head in a book for a few years and trying to make his way in the world ( the exact kind of cnut you'll go running to next time you get knocked of your bike and want a bit of compo), other wise have you tried www.I'ma freeloadingprickandwanttocapitialiseonsomeoneelesemisfoertune.com
Well we're still there. I got the gas and electric put in my name as they were about to be cut off. And I phoned up the court and found the bailiffs aren't coming for another month. And what's more they're coming to evict the original tenant, not us. So if I wanted I could write to the court a few days before pointing this out and the landlady would have to start from scratch, giving us a few more months. Not sure if i.'ll do this or not though. Hey, I'm a pretty straight kinda guy... I should point out that at the moment we're not depriving anyone of anything as the flat couldn't be rented anyway until the bailiffs come. I see if we then try to delay this, we're crossing a line.
hey imnotsofast, im living in the mayfair one at the moment, you should come by at some point, and everyone else, open evenings are on friday and theres a masked ball on wednesday, but if you want to pop by for a look around or to hang up/place/make some art come whenever, during the day.