Squatters in Islington can be at risk of being arrested.
Squatting simply means staying on property or land in Islington without permission from the owner or leaseholder.
Squatting is normally a last resort for homeless people in Canonbury, Barnsbury, or Angel.
It doesn't offer a lasting solution for a destitute as you are likely to be evicted from the Islington premises and sent to the bars by the police.
If you have continued to live in the property in Greater London after your lease ended, you are not a squatter.
You'd be committing a criminal offense if you're squatting in a residential property in Islington.
They can arrest, and convict you and you may face:
Get a prison sentence in Islington for up to six months maximum
Fines up to £5,000
The authorities aren't going to arrest you in Greater London if you:
You were residing in the property of rent in Islington after the expiry of your tenancy or license
You got deceived by a fraud rental agent and you actually thought you are a tenant in the property in Greater London
A Gypsy or Traveller living on an unauthorized location in Islington
They will evict you as a squatter in Islington easily if:
The police refuse to make any arrests in Greater London
Property owner in Angel, Canonbury, or Barnsbury does not want to involve police in the matter
He/she lives in a commercial property in Islington
As soon as you are not on the property, the Islington landowner can gain access to the property and replace all the locks.
If you live in the Islington property alone or with another settler and will not leave, the owner must get a court order in Greater London to evict you.
It is against the law to harass or threaten you.
In this case, the property owner must post a copy of his possession claim forms through the letterbox or attach the same to the squatter's front door, and this should be done at least five (5) days before the court hearing in Greater London.
The information provided must include a defence form as well as giving the knowledge of the place and time of the hearing.
You should challenge the owner's case in the law court, especially if you are not squatters in Islington.
This can be done by taking back the defence form to the court and attending the hearing in Islington on the specified date.
However, if the court in Greater London rules that you are squatting, they will order you to leave the Islington property right away.
Failure to vacate, the owner must ask the court bailiffs in Greater London to remove you.
As they do not have the right to be living where they are, squatters in Canonbury, Barnsbury, or Angel are considered as homeless.
If you seek assistance as a homeless person from your local council in Islington, you may likely be considered.
The Greater London council should be able to give you advice on where you can find a place to live in Islington if you're homeless and single.
In some cases, as an alternative to sleeping rough, specialized providers can provide emergency assistance in Greater London.
The council in Islington may provide you with urgent housing service if you are in a priority need i.e. if you are pregnant, have children or vulnerable.
Those who come under the immigration or residences restrictions won't be able to get longer-term housing from the council, such as asylum seekers in Angel, Canonbury, or Barnsbury or a "no recourse to public funds" status.
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