If you are a squatter in Staffordshire, you risk being evicted easily or arrested.
If you enter someone's property in Staffordshire and live there without their consent and permission, you are squatting.
Usually when you are homeless in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Tamworth, or Cannock, squatting is a last resort.
Squatting is not a long-term answer as you can be evicted from the location in Staffordshire and arrested at any time.
You will not be regarded as a squatter in case you continue to reside on the property or land in Staffordshire after the end of your license or tenancy.
It is a criminal offense to squat in a rental property in Staffordshire.
You'd most probably be arrested and in case of a conviction, you can face:
Be sentenced up to 6 months in Staffordshire
Pay a fine around £5,000
You may not be arrested in Staffordshire if you are:
Continued to live in a premise in Staffordshire after your tenancy ended
Genuinely moved into a property in Staffordshire thinking you were a tenant, but you were cheated by a bogus renting agent
Living on an unauthorized site in Staffordshire as a traveller or gypsy
As a Staffordshire squatter, you may be removed from a property if:
The police in Staffordshire are not prepared to make an arrest
The property owner in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Cannock, or Tamworth doesn't want to involve the police
You stay on a commercial property in Staffordshire
As soon as you are not on the property, the Staffordshire landowner can gain access to the property and replace all the locks.
If you refuse to leave the Staffordshire property, the owner can't threaten or force you out rather, they can get a court order for your eviction in Staffordshire.
The owner cannot use violence to throw you out of the place because it is illegal.
It is necessary that the landowner drops the court documents at the front door or in the letter box at least during the 5 days preceding the court hearing in Staffordshire; however if you are squatting in commercial premises, this must be done 2 days prior to the court hearing.
His claim forms sent to the squatter must include a defence form and details of the time and place of the court hearing.
You should challenge the owner's case in the law court, especially if you are not squatters in Staffordshire.
You can do this by going to the court with defence form and attending the proceedings in Staffordshire.
If the Staffordshire court rules that you are a squatter, you would be ordered to vacate the Staffordshire property within a short timeframe.
If you refuse to move on the property owner will request bailiffs from the Staffordshire court to remove you.
Squatters in Cannock, Newcastle-under-Lyme, or Tamworth are classed as homeless as they have no where to stay.
Applying as a homeless person contacting your local council in Staffordshire is the best thing you can do in this regard.
The Staffordshire Council can direct you on how to get somewhere to stay in Staffordshire if you are homeless and single.
Some areas in Staffordshire have professional services designed to offer emergency support to eradicate rough sleeping.
If you at risk, for instance if you have young children, or are pregnant, the Staffordshire council may make emergency housing provisions for you.
You don't have access to such provision if you are affected by residences or immigration restrictions, such as people whose immigration status doesn't give them access to public funds and asylum seekers in Cannock, Newcastle-under-Lyme, or Tamworth are examples of people under such restrictions.
Based in Staffordshire, 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.