You can easily be ejected and arrested if you are squatting in Eastbourne.
Squatting involves occupying and residing in a property in Eastbourne without the owner or tenant's permission.
Usually when you are homeless in Willington, Polegate, or Seaford, squatting is a last resort.
Squatting isn't a long-term option if you are homeless as you will be evicted from the building in Eastbourne and possibly arrested one day.
You are not a squatter if you stayed on the property in East Sussex after the end of license or tenancy.
It is a crime to squat in a residential property in Eastbourne.
You can be arrested and if convicted can be:
Spend up to 6 months in prison in Eastbourne
Get a fine of £5000 maximum
They will not arrest you in East Sussex if you:
Went to stay in the property in Eastbourne after your tenancy or licence expired
Genuinely moved into a property in East Sussex thinking you were a tenant, but you were cheated by a bogus renting agent
You are a traveller or nomad living on unauthorised land in Eastbourne
As a squatter in Eastbourne, you can easily be expelled if:
Police in East Sussex are not showing an interest for arrestation
The owner of the property in Willington, Polegate, or Seaford will not involve the police
You have occupied a commercial building in Eastbourne
As soon as you are not on the property, the Eastbourne landowner can gain access to the property and replace all the locks.
If in the property in Eastbourne there is anyone present, if you refuse to leave the owner must get an order from the court in East Sussex.
It is illegal for the owner to threaten or apply violence during eviction.
The owner needs to attach the copy of their possession claim forms to the front door at least 5 days before court hearing in East Sussex, or 2 days for those situated on commercial premises.
The documents must contain the information about place and date of hearing in the court and also defence form.
You will have to challenge the owner's claim if you are not a squatter in Eastbourne.
Simply, go to the court hearing in Eastbourne and return the defence form.
If you are actually an unauthorised occupant, you may be compelled by court in East Sussex to immediately move out of the Eastbourne property.
If you refuse to leave the property, then the landlord needs to ask the official East Sussex court bailiffs to remove you from the premises.
Squatters in Polegate, Seaford, or Willington are referred to as homeless due to the fact that you are living in a place you do not have the rights.
As a homeless person, you can apply to your local council in Eastbourne for help.
Assuming you are single or homeless, the East Sussex council will offer advice where you can get a place to live in Eastbourne.
In some East Sussex areas, specialist services may render emergency help as an alternative to sleeping rough.
The council in Eastbourne can provide emergency housing to the people who are vulnerable, have children or are pregnant.
However, the council won't help you with long-term or emergency housing if you have residential or immigration restrictions, for instance, if you're an asylum seeker in Polegate, Willington, or Seaford or has a no recourse to public funds status.
Based in Eastbourne, working nationwide
Find Out More
If you would like to find out more about the bespoke security services we provide here at Denbigh Franks, please do not hesitate to get in touch today. We look forward to answering any questions you may have.