Squatters in Richmond upon Thames are always at the risk of eviction and arrest.
Squatting simply means staying on property or land in Richmond upon Thames without permission from the owner or leaseholder.
Usually when you are homeless in Cole Park, Eel Pie Island, or Ham, squatting is a last resort.
The chances are that you'd be evicted from the Richmond upon Thames property and arrested if you're committing this offence.
You will not be regarded as a squatter in case you continue to reside on the property or land in Greater London after the end of your license or tenancy.
It is a criminal offence in Richmond upon Thames to squat on a private property.
As the consequences of squatting, you can be:
Go to jail in Richmond upon Thames for about 6 months
Pay a fine around £5,000
You may not be detained in Greater London if:
Staying on a property in Richmond upon Thames after your license or tenancy ended
Entered the apartment in Greater London genuinely thinking you were a tenant - a fraudulent letting agent rented the property to you without the right to
You are living on an unauthorized area in Richmond upon Thames as a gypsy or traveller
As a Richmond upon Thames squatter, you can be evicted if:
The Greater London police seem unwilling to arrest the squatter
The owner in Eel Pie Island, Cole Park, or Ham is not involving police
It's commercial premises in Richmond upon Thames you are living in
And the property owner in Richmond upon Thames may change the locks when you are not around.
In case the squatter has declined to vacate the property in Richmond upon Thames, and is still inside, the landlord can obtain court order in Greater London to vacate.
If the owner threatens you or uses the violence to evict you, it is completely illegal.
The copy of possession claim form is posted through the letterbox or attached to the front door, which should be done by the property owner at least 5 days ahead of court hearing in Greater London for squatting in residential property or 2 days earlier commercial building.
Remember defence forms and court hearing date and time must be included in this copy.
You have the right to challenge the owner's case if you aren't a squatter in Richmond upon Thames.
That can be done by returning the defence form to the court and going to the court hearing in Richmond upon Thames.
If you are squatting, the Greater London court will usually order you to vacate the property in Richmond upon Thames there and then.
If you don't leave the property, the owner can ask the Greater London court bailiffs to evict you.
You can receive some assistance meant for the homeless from the council because as a squatter in Ham, Cole Park, or Eel Pie Island, you are classified as homeless.
So, as a homeless individual, you can ask their local Council for help in Richmond upon Thames.
The Greater London council will give you advice about how to find a place to stay in Richmond upon Thames if you are single and homeless.
In some cases, as an alternative to sleeping rough, specialized providers can provide emergency assistance in Greater London.
If you have children or if you are pregnant, the council in Richmond upon Thames will provide you with emergency housing as well and the same applies to the vulnerable.
The council cannot provide you with an emergency residence or long-term housing if you are under immigration or residence restrictions, e.g. If you are an asylum seeker in Eel Pie Island, Cole Park, or Ham and you have no rights on the public funds.
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