Buy to let owners 'should beware of squatters'

15 January 2010

Written by Simon Whittaker

Buy to let property owners who have commercial and residential premises should beware of squatters, it has been revealed.

Aviva has said that landlords and commercial property owners who have empty buildings are as much at risk of squatters as homeowners.

"It is imperative that adequate measures are put in place to prevent squatters from entering and taking ownership, as it can be notoriously difficult to remove squatters," said underwriting manager for the company Mike Colmans.

Some 20,000 squatters are thought to live in the UK, Mr Colmans explained. Commercial properties have also been hit by squatters, who have set up seasonal businesses in empty shop units, he added.

Good security can guard against this and buy to let owners may consider installing perimeter fencing, extra lighting and CCTV systems.

Mr Colans also stated the case of one person who had purchased a site to develop as an outlet, but a squatter took over the site before building work started.

He said this led to a £5,500 legal bill because the squatters refused to leave the premises.

The government defines squatting as when somebody occupies an empty property, which they neither own nor rent, without the owner's permission or knowledge.

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