Live data from Hacker News

Squatters take over Gordon Ramsay's London pub

bbc.com

31–40 of 50 posts

Re: Squatters take over Gordon Ramsay's London pub

#31
post #14

> Signed by "The Occupiers", the notice ... claimed any attempt to enter the premises without their permission was a criminal offence and could result in a prison sentence or fine. This is insane that squatting is not a criminal offense and that they can even argue that forceful eviction by the owner would be a criminal offense

[deleted]

Re: Squatters take over Gordon Ramsay's London pub

#32
post #14

> Signed by "The Occupiers", the notice ... claimed any attempt to enter the premises without their permission was a criminal offence and could result in a prison sentence or fine. This is insane that squatting is not a criminal offense and that they can even argue that forceful eviction by the owner would be a criminal offense

> is insane that squatting is not a criminal offense

No. Clearly a civil case.

Re: Squatters take over Gordon Ramsay's London pub

#34
post #14

> Signed by "The Occupiers", the notice ... claimed any attempt to enter the premises without their permission was a criminal offence and could result in a prison sentence or fine. This is insane that squatting is not a criminal offense and that they can even argue that forceful eviction by the owner would be a criminal offense

It is by no means insane, especially if you consider the broader legal status. It's illegal to break into places, and it's illegal to occupy people's homes. What is called squatting refers to occupying empty/abandoned places, and it would be insane to make that a criminal offense.

In this case the property was closed sometime in mid-March [0] and the police were made aware of the squatters on 4/10. That's less than one month empty before the squatters took possession.

Now that the squatters are there and apparently can only be dealt with through a civil lawsuit, the odds of someone wanting to buy the property are presumably much lower, so it's going to remain abandoned and unused for much longer than it otherwise would. How is that a favorable outcome for the community?

[0] https://whatpub.com/pubs/NLD/5989/york-albany-london

Re: Squatters take over Gordon Ramsay's London pub

#35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is by no means insane, especially if you consider the broader legal status. It's illegal to break into places, and it's illegal to occupy people's homes. What is called squatting refers to occupying empty/abandoned places, and it would be insane to make that a criminal offense.

You mean that if I have a place and leave it empty for any reason, then it can be squatted, and this is perfectly legal? If yes, this is unbelievable and insane, yes.

There is subtlety here. Leaving it empty because you are away doesn't mean it's not your residence anymore. Abandoning it changes the legal status of its occupation. Only abandoning the place makes squatting not a criminal offense in most countries.

Such difference exists for a reason, as a balance against an absolute power of owners which drives the number of homeless people up as we can see in certain areas. Take for example the netherlands. It was very common and well regarded to squat for a while, and the homeless population was very low. Now that squatting has been outlawed, both homeless and empty dwellings have gone up. There was some public study on the topic a while back: https://en.squat.net/2016/05/27/netherlands-housing-crisis/

Re: Squatters take over Gordon Ramsay's London pub

#36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is by no means insane, especially if you consider the broader legal status. It's illegal to break into places, and it's illegal to occupy people's homes. What is called squatting refers to occupying empty/abandoned places, and it would be insane to make that a criminal offense.

You mean that if I have a place and leave it empty for any reason, then it can be squatted, and this is perfectly legal? If yes, this is unbelievable and insane, yes.

UK squatters generally move into buildings the local community consider to be blighted, so there’s never much of an outrage. As an owner it’d be hard to claim damages against a building that was a tear-down thirty years ago.

Re: Squatters take over Gordon Ramsay's London pub

#37

Lots of comments here complaining about the fact that squatting is allowed. But the property seems to have been empty for years. It's hard for me to be sympathetic to the right to leave a property completely vacant and unused.

The property was functioning as a pub until March of this year:

https://whatpub.com/pubs/NLD/5989/york-albany-london

The squatters seem to have taken possession less than a month after it was closed.

Re: Squatters take over Gordon Ramsay's London pub

#38

Property law is abysmal in the UK, the fact that the squatters stuck up a sign on the wall naming their rights to occupy, just shows what a joke it is. I dont agree with property being left empty, but there is due process to these things, and the average worker has to suffer through all of it to even get one home. If no one is buying at the current price then thats the market saying the fair price is lower, and perha…

Ugly precedent? Squatting, and more generally adverse possession laws have been around for literally centuries? https://www.gov.uk/squatting-law/squatters-rights-to-propert...

Re: Squatters take over Gordon Ramsay's London pub

#40
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is by no means insane, especially if you consider the broader legal status. It's illegal to break into places, and it's illegal to occupy people's homes. What is called squatting refers to occupying empty/abandoned places, and it would be insane to make that a criminal offense.

Trespassing is a criminal offense, right?

In the UK, it’s a civil matter in almost all cases.
Post reply on HN