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Polish decorators down tools and claim squatters rights in banker's flat
Last updated at 09:37am on 10.11.06
Nita Bowers and her £215,000 apartment
When City investment banker Nita Bowers bought a two-bedroom flat in Docklands her only problem seemed to be that it needed a spot of paint before being rented out.
So, like thousands before her, she hired some builder-decorators and tasked them with doing up the flat in a few days before putting it on the lettings market.
But the two workmen liked the look of the £215,000 apartment overlooking Canary Wharf so much, they downed tools and moved in, claiming squatters' rights.
When mother-of-four Mrs Bowers called round to check the progress of the work she found the locks had been changed. Then one of the workmen thrust a legal document in front of her saying they lived there and had no intention of moving.
Now she is facing a gruelling legal process to force the Polish builders out while they run up utility costs and her mortgage bill soars.
Mrs Bowers, who bought the buy-to-let property to give her a pension when she is older, said: "I went round with an estate agent and we found we couldn't get in.
"Then a very burly man came out and thrust a legal notice on to the agent's chest, saying they lived there now." Mrs Bowers called the police who came round but said they were not allowed to move the squatters on and suggested she take civil action against them.
She said: "The police have visited but there's nothing they can do; we have to go through the courts. I'm now having to pay two mortgages and there are bills galore. It's my first buy-to-let investment and all my property dreams have turned into a nightmare."
Attempts at dialogue with the squatters also failed. She said: "I've tried to get in and banged on the door but these two burly Polish guys have told me they are claiming squatters' rights. I said to them, 'it's not your dream home, it's mine.'"
Mrs Bowers is now waiting for her application to remove the squatters to make its way through the courts. She said: "Where is the justice in all this? I can't believe people can just come and live in someone else's home."
The squatters confirmed they were living at the flat but declined to comment further. Mrs Bowers's ordeal came to light as Polish president Lech Kaczynski claimed thousands of his "feckless" countrymen were raking in benefits back home while also working in Britain.
In a press conference with Tony Blair at Downing Street, the president said Britain had become the "destination of choiceî for jobless Poles and claimed the workers were "raising unemployment figures in Poland while they are doing very nicely in the UK."
An estimated 400,000 Poles have come to live in Britain since the expansion of the EU in May 2004. The Government has defended the influx, claiming the new arrivals are hard-working. Westminster council revealed last week thatmore than half the homeless on the streets of central London originated in eastern Europe.
Reader views (7)
Am I correct in gathering that the squatters in question had access to the flat only as a result of their being contracted for work by Nita Bowers? If so then they are her employees, at least for the terms of their contract, and they had no right whatsoever to change the locks on her property. Should I hire painters, then do they have a right to squat in my living room? I think not. If this article represents the case correctly then indeed this is a case of fraud and theft. Hopefully the perpetrators will receive a good sentence for it.
I hope this case will not reflect badly upon the Polish immigrant community, the vast majority of which is honest and decent. There are a few bad apples in every batch. Let's don't let their presence poison our opinion of the whole bunch.
- C, Glasgow, Scotlnd
Well Tina clearly doesn't know what she's talking about!
It's unfortunate that these Polish builders have access to this property and have been able to claim squatters rights. I agree with Nigel, that this shouldn't be granted where deception has been used to gain access.
Buy to Let is hardly to blame - the industry ensures that people who are unable to get onto the housing ladder themselves are still able to live in something they would ordinarily not be able to afford to buy. Buy to Let investors are not the sole cause of property prices increasing, although they do of course have some effect on the market.
Choosing the right property and knowing how to manage that property are key in ensuring the safety of an investment property and although it is unlucky that this has happened to this lady, it would be prudent to choose a reputable company to refurbish/renovate a property - one that has been established and one that you can run checks on.
- Steve Charlton, Carshalton, Surrey
It always surprises me that the landowner has to establish his rights through the courts in this way. This is rental theft and fraud, and should be made a criminal activity - rather than some petty civil infringement.
- David, Purley England.
There should be such a thing as squatters rights, but they should surely not apply when entry was gained by deception as it was here, and I find it incredible that these men can't be arrested for fraud, or at least forcibly removed from the property.
Squatters rights is for rare situations when a piece of land (or even more rarely a building) is completely abandoned. It's then OK for someone to take it over and use it responsibly, rather than allowing it to become a rat-infested nuisance to all, and if no-one comes forwards to reclaim it within (I think) twelve years, it's theirs for keeps.
- Nigel, London
I've no sympathy, it's buy to let that's been in no small part responsible for the rise in house prices as the people with spare cash treat them as investments. Homes should not be investments, they should be for people to live in.
- Tina, London
This is a shocking story. There should be no such thing as squatter's rights, and property owners should be able to use all means at their disposal to remove people.
As a landlord myself, I have experienced on several occasions bad tenants. There's a lot of 'scum' out there who are looking to get into a property and cause problems. Although I'm glad I invested in property, you've got to be very careful. Treat all prospective tenants or workmen with deep suspicion.
- Peter, Collier's Wood, London
You pay cheap - you pay twice.
- Bomberbrown, London
