Squatters in Berkshire are susceptible to removal and being arrested.
Squatting is when a person deliberately gains access to your property in Berkshire and starts living there without the owner's or the tenant's consent.
Worthy of mention is that squatting in Hungerford, Newbury, or Thatcham can only be considered as a last resort.
It is not a long-term solution as most probably you will be evicted from the property in Berkshire and arrested.
You are not considered a squatter if, after your tenancy expires, you remain in the property in Berkshire.
It is a criminal offence in Berkshire to squat on a private property.
You can get arrested and in case you get convicted, you might:
Get a prison sentence in Berkshire for up to six months maximum
Be penalised up to £5,000
The following situations in Berkshire would not warrant an arrest:
Continued living in the same premises in Berkshire after the end of tenancy or licence
Went into the Berkshire property believing you were given tenancy over it - an example is if a hoax agency that had to right to rent, rented you the property
You are only a gypsy or traveller camping on an unlicensed land in Berkshire
Squatters in Berkshire can be evicted if:
The police in Berkshire are unwilling to arrest you
The owner of the property in Newbury, Thatcham, or Hungerford will not involve the police
They are staying in commercial premises in Berkshire
The landlord in Berkshire has the power to go into the property to change the locks whilst you are not there.
The owner can obtain a court order in Berkshire if you or any other squatter if you fail to move out of the property in Berkshire.
The owner cannot use violence against you or threaten you.
The owner needs to attach the copy of their possession claim forms to the front door at least 5 days before court hearing in Berkshire, or 2 days for those situated on commercial premises.
These must include a form of defence and information of the court hearing's location and time.
You have a right to contest the landowner's case if you are not squatting on the property in Berkshire.
You can do this by forwarding to court the defence form and be in attendance of court hearings in Berkshire.
If you are actually squatter, the court in Berkshire will order you to vacate the property in Berkshire right away.
Failure to do so might cause the property owner to involve the court bailiffs from Berkshire to evict you.
Squatters in Thatcham, Hungerford, or Newbury are categorised as homeless individuals, as they don't have a place to live in.
If you seek assistance as a homeless person from your local council in Berkshire, you may likely be considered.
The Berkshire Council can direct you on how to get somewhere to stay in Berkshire if you are homeless and single.
Sometimes emergency help may provide you with temporary shelter in Berkshire through specialist services.
Also, the council in Berkshire may provide you emergency house to stay if you are pregnant, have children or are vulnerable.
When visa or social restrictions apply to you, the authority does not have to have temporary or longer-term accommodation (e.g. if your status of immigration indicates you have' no use of public funds' or you are an asylum seeker in Newbury, Thatcham, or Hungerford).
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