12 February 2012
This information applies to England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Squatting is where you live somewhere without any legal rights. It isn't against the law but you can be evicted very easily. You can also be arrested if you damage the property or, in some circumstances, if you refuse to leave.
To find out more about squatting, you can go to the Shelter website at: www.england.shelter.org.uk. This includes information of relevance to people in Wales.
In Northern Ireland, go to www.housingadviceni.org.
In England, the government has produced guidance to make you aware of your rights if your home is taken over by squatters. The guidance is available from the Department for Communities and Local Government website at www.communities.gov.uk.
In Wales, similar guidance for homeowners is available from the Directgov website at www.direct.gov.uk.
In Northern Ireland guidance is available from the NIDirect website at www.nidirect.gov.uk.
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