Squatters in Hertfordshire can be at risk of being arrested.
This term squatting is used if someone enters and lives in a property in Hertfordshire without having permission from the owner or tenant.
Usually when you are homeless in Watford, Saint, or Albans, squatting is a last resort.
It can not prove to be a long-standing option for homeless people as they are most likely to be evicted from Hertfordshire or arrested by police.
You are not a squatter if you stayed at the property in Hertfordshire after the end of the tenancy term or license.
Squatting in a residential property in Hertfordshire is considered a criminal offence.
So, you can get arrested and you may face:
Prison in Hertfordshire for up to 6 months
Fined up to £5000
The authorities aren't going to arrest you in Hertfordshire if you:
You remained in a rented property in Hertfordshire even after the end of your tenancy or license
You truly went into a premise in Hertfordshire believing that you are a tenant only to find out that you were conned by a fake renting agent
You are a traveller or gypsy living on an unauthorized area in Hertfordshire
You can be easily removed as a squatter in Hertfordshire if:
The police in Hertfordshire are not prepared to make an arrest
The landowner in Watford, Albans, or Saint has no interest in seeking the assistance of the police
You are living in commercial premises in Hertfordshire
The owner in Hertfordshire has the right to change the locks when you are not there.
If you're refusing to leave the Hertfordshire property, the owner must get the Hertfordshire court order to carry out the eviction.
Use of violence or threat against you is illegal.
The property owner must attach a copy of their possession claim to the front door of the house or post it through the letterbox at least five days before the court hearing in Hertfordshire.
The documents must contain the information about place and date of hearing in the court and also defence form.
You have the right to challenge the owner's case if you aren't a squatter in Hertfordshire.
Then, be present at the court hearing in Hertfordshire and return the defence form to the court.
However, if the court in Hertfordshire rules that you are squatting, they will order you to leave the Hertfordshire property right away.
If you fail to move out, the Hertfordshire court bailiffs will force you out once the owner reports you.
Squatters in Saint, Watford, or Albans are also called homeless because you cannot claim the right to own a place where you are living.
Since you don't have somewhere to go to, it would be wise to apply to the local council in Hertfordshire for help as a homeless person.
The Hertfordshire council should be able to give you advice on where you can find a place to live in Hertfordshire if you're homeless and single.
Sometimes emergency help may provide you with temporary shelter in Hertfordshire through specialist services.
The council in Hertfordshire can provide emergency housing to the people who are vulnerable, have children or are pregnant.
If your homelessness is as a result of immigration issues, for instance, if you are seeking asylum in Watford, Albans, or Saint or if you cannot benefit from public funds due to your immigration status, then the council is under no obligation to make emergency or extended-period housing provisions for you.
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