A squatter is someone who enters and lives in a property without permission. For example, they do not have permission from the owner or a current tenant.
Squatting in a residential property, like a house or flat, is illegal. It can lead to 6 months in prison, a £5,000 fine or both.
If you're a squatter
We may class you as homeless because you're in a property you do not have permission to live in.
If you're squatting contact our homelessness team for advice and help.
How to evict a squatter
To evict a squatter you can:
- change the locks
- involve the police.
You can also apply for a court order if a squatter does not leave when asked.
How to help a vulnerable squatter
We may class a squatter as homeless because they're in a property they do not have permission to live in. They can become homeless quickly because they have limited rights and are easily evicted.
If you want to help a squatter you can:
- advise them to contact our homelessness team
- share local support services they can use.
Report a squatter living in a council property
Email housingtenancyteam@medway.gov.uk if someone is squatting in a council property.
Include in your email:
- details about the property
- details about the person you think is squatting
- your details.
The team will likely contact you about this.