[Stu]

Originally posted by Shaun

And you're still missing my point - it's ultimately property that does not belong to them, and is no different at all to breaking and entering, other than causing damage. It doesn't matter if the property owner has been away from there for a week or 50 years, it's still his, and squatters have no [moral] right to inhabit it if the owner doesn't want them to.

Taking the example with the topic starter here, it's obviously causing his friend's mum a great deal of stress and concern to have these squatters claiming their property - and in my opinion that's just not right.

So its not moral in our affluent society to use a house that has been unused for YEARS , boreded up , or burnt half to the ground as squat residences of shelter? Because thats the kind of place most squaters live in. The kind of place where the owner has long since lost care for the place. Its not wrong. Its not right. Its just putting somebody under a roof that would otherwise be used for sweet **** all. Who gives a damn about papers.

[bridge7too7far]

Originally posted by Matt08

The best thing for your friend to do would be to contact her nearest Citizens Advice Bearau, who would be able to tell her what her legal rights are. Once she knew her legal rights, she could take it from there. If it came to the conclusion that the sqatters were there illegially, then she could get the police to remove them from her flat.

I spoke to me freind and she will read soem of what is in here. Thanks for help evryone

[Shaun]

Originally posted by Morpheus

So its not moral in our affluent society to use a house that has been unused for YEARS , boreded up , or burnt half to the ground as squat residences of shelter? Because thats the kind of place most squaters live in. The kind of place where the owner has long since lost care for the place. Its not wrong. Its not right. Its just putting somebody under a roof that would otherwise be used for sweet **** all. Who gives a damn about papers.

No, I don't think it is. Like sunny said, why should they have accommodation rent, mortgage, house price-free? It's not fair on other members of society.

[bridge7too7far]

Originally posted by Sunny_01
The link that Dr gave to you gives some great info I would pass that on ASAP so you can take the right steps quickly.

Squatters do not discriminate about where they will move into, run down buildings, new builds etc.. at the end of the day they make a choice to try and live in property that belongs to someone else and dont pay anything towards it. Why should they live rent free?

Will do lol I've printd it off too. It's horrible Squatters find your own place to live instead of pinching somones elses place and makin it your own

[Tom]

Empty derelict building or not, its someones property and its still breaking and entering. A lot of the older buildings are bulldozed or renovated. Should they stay up in their current state just because there are squatters?

There are plenty of opportunities for squatters to get their lives back on track, they just choose not to grasp hold of them.

[bridge7too7far]

Originally posted by Tom_
Empty derelict building or not, its someones property and its still breaking and entering. A lot of the older buildings are bulldozed or renovated. Should they stay up in their current state just because there are squatters?

There are plenty of opportunities for squatters to get their lives back on track, they just choose not to grasp hold of them.

It's like the Cuckoo birdd who lays it's eggs in anoter bird's nests, too lazy to make it's own lol

[Stu]

Originally posted by Shaun

No, I don't think it is. Like sunny said, why should they have accommodation rent, mortgage, house price-free? It's not fair on other members of society.

Its not fair because we are paying for what we get. Nice homes. They on the other hand live on concrete floors of rat infested pits. I really dont see why so many people are complaining and getting outraged.

[Sunny_01]

But they are not all living in run down properties thats the whole point. There is even a squatters advisory service on the web where they advertise for space and discuss "their rights" as squatters.

[Shaun]

Originally posted by Morpheus

Its not fair because we are paying for what we get. Nice homes. They on the other hand live on concrete floors of rat infested pits. I really dont see why so many people are complaining and getting outraged.

Firstly - it's still not their property and they have no right to it, whatever the condition is.

And secondly, as Sunny has pointed out, not all properties inhabited by Squatters are "concrete floors" and "infested pits" - especially if they're able to get internet access and discuss their own rights online.

[Stu]

My point to counter the two of you is that most of the residences ARE pits - at least the squats in Cork are.

And their are internet cafes now days Shaun. They come fairly cheap. One or two hours would be payed for im guessing by about 5 minuets begging.

[Shaun]

Oh come off it, you're just clutching at straws now. How many residences have you actually seen? Very few, I'm guessing.

And besides - even if they are pits, so what? They're not exactly in a position to moan, and even besides that - they shouldn't be there anyway. It's not their land.

[Christina]

It is basically theft.. they should have no right to do this x

[Sunny_01]

I hate to come across as being uncaring. I do care about the homeless, BUT I believe our government should be doing more to support them and aid them with housing. I do not think that anyone should think it is ok to just take what you want or need in this life. Belive me Stu I have not always had a comfortable lifestyle but I never just took what I needed. They are not above the law, no-one should be above the law.

[Legend]

So many homeless people are just not in the right state of mind to "change their lives" ... yeah it's possible, it's possible to go from being homeless to living a great life but some people are just not in the right frame of mind to "get up and change" so they do what they can to survive and get through the day. Obviously they aren't above the law, etc, etc but I feel that if houses are abandoned and homeless people are squatting to simply keep dry then I don't feel they are doing anybody any harm whatsoever. Obviously it wouldn't be nice to know that your property is being used by squatters but I don't blame them for what they do, I know if I ever found myself in that position *touch wood* then I'd do whatever I could do to make the nights slightly more comfortable.

[Shaun]

Originally posted by Legend
So many homeless people are just not in the right state of mind to "change their lives" ... yeah it's possible, it's possible to go from being homeless to living a great life but some people are just not in the right frame of mind to "get up and change" so they do what they can to survive and get through the day. Obviously they aren't above the law, etc, etc but I feel that if houses are abandoned and homeless people are squatting to simply keep dry then I don't feel they are doing anybody any harm whatsoever.

But obviously they are causing harm, because the thread starter's friend's mum is stressed out over it and doesn't want them there. It should be her choice who is in her house.

[Legend]

Originally posted by Shaun

But obviously they are causing harm, because the thread starter's friend's mum is stressed out over it and doesn't want them there. It should be her choice who is in her house.

Yeah, that's just one example. And in that case, something should be done about it, she should get her property back how it was but I also think help should be given to the squatters and that they are not just kicked out to go and find another place to squat.

However, there are a lot of cases were people squat in properties that the owner hasn't looked at in years, they are left to waste away and left for people to vandalise daily anyway, so in cases like this, I don't see any harm in the homeless trying to make their life slightly more easier.

I think it just boils down to the government trying to do more to help the homeless. If they spent less time interfering and dictating people's day to day lives and worried more about the people who needed their help most then I'm sure the problem wouldn't be as big ... sure it's always going to be there but as Tesco says ... every little helps.

[Shaun]

Yeah, I agree with you on that - more should be down to help the homeless, such as funding more shelters - but ultimately there are shelters around for the homeless. Sure, they're crap now, but again [I like reiterating ] that's not the home-owner's fault.

[Stu]

Originally posted by Shaun
Oh come off it, you're just clutching at straws now. How many residences have you actually seen? Very few, I'm guessing.

And besides - even if they are pits, so what? They're not exactly in a position to moan, and even besides that - they shouldn't be there anyway. It's not their land.

About half a mile down the road from me theirs a circle of red brick houses that are all borded up and burned down. Everybody has moved out. The government seem reluctant to do anything with them. Squats. Not theft , in my opinion.

Can you accept that instead of claiming im clutching to straws? I think you should just move on and stop trying to prove a point or we will be here all day.

[Dr43%er]

"I don't see any harm in the homeless trying to make their life slightly more easier."

Ok, I agree with that, but should they have more rights than the owner of the property? It may be empty now, but when the owner wants to do something they can not, so the property stays in a state of disrepair.

[Shaun]

Originally posted by Morpheus

About half a mile down the road from me theirs a circle of red brick houses that are all borded up and burned down. Everybody has moved out. The government seem reluctant to do anything with them. Squats. Not theft , in my opinion.

Can you accept that instead of claiming Im clutching to straws? I think you should just move on and stop trying to prove a point or we will be here all day.

Well I'm happy to be here all day, since I think my point is right - still not their property...

[Sunny_01]

Like myself and Legend have both said more needs to be done to provide support for the homeless. Their support system is limited and needs to be farther reaching.

I just cant and wont agree that it is ok for people to just move into property owned by someone else, the state of repair is irrespective to be honest. What is important is that they have the right to do as they please with something that they own. They have the right to leave it standing empty for years, thats their choice. Why should they feel ok about someone just moving into it.

[Tom]

Originally posted by Morpheus

About half a mile down the road from me theirs a circle of red brick houses that are all borded up and burned down. Everybody has moved out. The government seem reluctant to do anything with them. Squats. Not theft , in my opinion.

Can you accept that instead of claiming Im clutching to straws? I think you should just move on and stop trying to prove a point or we will be here all day.

If everyone has moved from a whole set of houses then someone obviously has plans for them whether they remain standing for the time being or not. Perhaps they are being bulldozed but you just haven't heard anything about it. Theres a reason for houses being empty in bulk.

Morpheus, a hypothetical situation. Imagine you are a business man and you are the owner of an old building, and has left it standing for a while but you have plans, and did have before you stopped using the building. When you want to begin to get work done there are squatters inside and when you go in to try and shift them, they say "we have rights". They won't budge. What is your response to that?

[Stu]

Originally posted by Shaun

Well I'm happy to be here all day, since I think my point is right - still not their property...

Their is no right point. Its a matter of opinion. Just get over yourself.

And to Tom - the thing is that the builder situation you mentioned happens very seldom here. A lot of areas around here are squats , and they litteraly have been from the moment I was granted with the power of memory. Again , im speaking from my own experiences with squatters in this thread. Virtually every squat ive seen has been like this.

[Shaun]

Get over myself? I'm not saying I'm right, I'm saying I think I'm right. Big difference.

[Stu]

And I think im right. Hence this argument could go on until the cows come home. Your here all day , I on the other hand , am not. So lets just call a spade a spade.