09 January 2012 Last Updated: 09 January 2012 10:50
written by: Talbot Walker

Squatting

The Government has plans to introduce a new offence of squatting in residential buildings.  If these plans come to fruition it will apply to someone who enters a residential building as a trespasser (knowing or ought to have known that they are trespassing) and who is then residing in the building or intending to reside there for any period.  Unfortunately these proposals will not apply to residential squatting in commercial premises.