[iam5tv]

I agree that squatting is a subject that most people disagree with. The first thing you all need to understand is what was mentioned about UNUSED or ABANDONED property - where the owner is not using the property and sometimes doesn't even know they own it. So it just sits there.
In a country where there is a housing shortage, wouldn't you say that leaving properties empty is irresponsible considering how much need there is for them? The Govt is going mad putting up new builds all the time just to house people, so why would they uphold your right to leave a house sitting there doing nothing?
If Joe Squatter decides to wander in and start living there then he is making more use of the property than the owner. After 12 years - which as the owner is plenty of time to get your act together - nobody has said anything, then why not punish the lazy owner and hand the property over to the squatter? Its the same priciple as finding a wallet in the street and handing it in. If nobody claims it in a certain period, then it becomes theirs.

If you don't want squatters, then secure your property while you leave the place empty (e.g. while applying for a grant) and make sure that you can prove it is secured, like take photos of all the locks. Then if you get a squatter, you can prove they committed breaking and entering.

But if you leave the door open and wander off for 20 years, don't expect that you will be able to come back and move back in - that is irresponsible use of property.