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100 squatters evicted from council estate opposite £1m homes
Rashid Razaq and Felix Allen, Evening Standard27 Aug 2008
Residents in a street where houses cost more than £1million each have been besieged by an army of squatters because of a council blunder.
Homeowners in Atkins Road in Clapham told how 300 illegal occupants have taken over a neighbouring block of flats - holding all-night parties, lighting bonfires and playing loud music.
Today the council finally acted and evicted 100 squatters from the block but residents still wanted to know how much it will cost them to clean up the mess left behind.
The residents have criticised Lambeth council for failing to secure Limerick Close estate, which they say has been made into a rubbish tip, strewn with broken furniture and beer bottles, and covered in graffiti.
The four blocks of flats, which were being used as temporary accommodation, were due to be returned to a private owner when the lease expired in April.
But the squatters, including about 100 young Polish men, took residence in the 45 flats just before the handover after hearing it was empty by word of mouth.
Lambeth council said it could not return the apartments to the unnamed owners until the premises had been vacated - leaving the council with a rent bill estimated at £40,000 a month.
Lambeth won a possession order to evict the squatters. The total cost to taxpayers, including legal fees and repairing any damage, is likely to be close to £500,000.
Nearby homeowners are furious that they endured months of all-night parties and other anti-social behaviour.
Dulce Lopes, 31, a mother who lives across the road, said the quiet residential area had been devastated by the squatters.
She said: "It felt more dangerous here. It's very dirty and there are cars and people coming and going in the middle of the night. Sometimes we feel scared because we don't know what they're going to do."
Another neighbour, a father of two young children, said: "The noise is absolutely unbelievable and it continues late into the night. I can't wait until they are evicted."
Overnight, 200 squatters left the flats and today teams of bailiffs moved in, armed with bolt cutters, to move the remaining squatters.
Accompanied by police, dark-suited private security guards encountered verbal abuse and hostility from some occupants but the flats were evacuated peacefully.
Mattresses, bicycles, clothing and other possessions were piled up in the street as the bailiffs cut through the squatters' padlocks and changed the locks at the block of flats.
Security guards were posted at the entrance to the estate to prevent the squatters re-entering.
Dave McEvoy, chairman of the neighbouring Weir Estate Residents Association, welcomed the eviction saying the squatters had "blighted" the area and intimidated elderly residents.
Mr McEvoy said: "I wish them all the best but it's great to see them gone. Obviously they need a place to live but the council should have handled the property much better. I don't know why they weren't guarded in the first place.
"There's a lot of people in this borough who need housing and have been trying to do it through the official channels."
Many squatters were left with their belongings by the side of the road. They defended their right to occupy the empty flats.
Eugene, 32, said the eviction had left his partner and their four-month-old baby homeless.
He said: "We spoke to the council and they said we should stay in the properties until there is an eviction order and then we'd be given notice. But they turned up this morning and they forcibly threw us out in 15 minutes.
"All my belongings are in the street and now I'll have to go to the council again to try and get emergency accommodation. We are decent people who just need a place to live."
Lambeth council said it had worked with Addington Rentals, the owner of the flats.
A court granted an order this morning and it was served by the bailiffs.
The council blamed the way eviction orders are granted for the delay in removing the squatters.
Reader views (22)
with regard to one of the posts squatters have no right to Break and enter a property..
Get your fact straight
Peter
- Peter Proudhon, malvern worcestershire, 30/01/2010 11:04
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Charles B, You should be asahmed saying sucn nonsense, I live next to this area on Atkind Road and am glad to see th back of them. The estate is now much better, cleaner and no nuisance. and you must be deaf as well! These squatters got what they had coming. I agree with those others, they was looking for a free ride and we pay our rates so why should they be allowed to squat in properties for free. Charles B is clearly hasn't got anything useful to say.
- Anon, London, england, 22/06/2009 15:00
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I'm shocked to read this! I live next door and was unaware at the time that cul-de-sac had even been squatted. I only found out on the news when they'd been evicted!
As for "holding all-night parties, lighting bonfires and playing loud music" I never saw anything of the sort. That TA Chairman should be ashamed of himself.
As for James Jess adding "Nu-labour should scrap this silly law" shows he clearly doesn't know anything about *the law* at all - as is usually the case with people who spout off silly random comments about it.
- Charles B, Weir Road, Clapham, 15/04/2009 13:17
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The solution is simple, Nu-labour should scrap this silly law, no squatters rights would exist, full stop. No need for lengthy and expensive legal costs for the taxpayer and landlords to chuck them out.
- James Jess,, East Ham, London, 24/09/2008 23:06
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I have lived opposite this estate for some months, and yes I have heard loud music occasionally. However I have no other complaints, and any observation of the conditions at the estate show that the buildings have had little care and maintainance for a very long time and, longer than this current 'Problem'. The Estate owners/management surely have some responsibility in this situation.
- Jon Sawyer, Balham UK, 24/09/2008 22:06
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First of all I would like to get some things right in this article. There were never 300 squatters in these blocks. There were about 100 people living there including Polish, Spanish, Italian, Czechs, German and French people. The reason why neighbors were afraid of the squatters is because they are afraid of something they don't know but they never tried to get to know them. The fear comes from the luck of knowledge. It is much easier to say that they are bad people taking drugs and having parties every night (that's not true as well) than see the positive side of it. People in these blocks maintain the place and the flats, most of them treating it like home. It was a happy and friendly community. The article is a lie and it shows only one side of the story. Whipping poor residents of the area who couldn't sleep for half a year because of drug taking polish squatters. Does it sound real to you? And as for the council, they often don't leave people any other choice.
David from Isle of Wight I think you should get a life!
- Gola, London, 24/09/2008 22:06
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I have been walking past that estate on the way to Clapham South tube twice a day for the last ten years. Recently the music has been way too loud and there is always rubbish outside. It is starting to look really scruffy.
- Weir Road Resident, England, GB., 24/09/2008 22:06
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I agree with Gola that this article and several others on this story are rather fallacious in lieu of actual facts.
The real shock of the story is that these were EMPTY council properties that are due to be GIVEN AWAY to a private landlord.
- Nathan, UK, 24/09/2008 22:06
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Why have these people got rights? They occupy property illegally get the Police to throw them out. There should be no need for court cases. Just a court order telling them to leave.
This is a clear case where the law is an ass and is perpetuated by overich solicitors and barristers.
- Duncan Bailey, London, 24/09/2008 22:06
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The majority of squatters are not homeless people but people who just dont want to pay rent. As for Polish squatters you must understand the anger of a British worker whose wages being undercut by Foreign workers .
If a Brit worker needs to earn 7.00 per hour because he has rent or mortgage to pay he loses out to a Polish or whoever worker who is only paid £4.00 an hour and will happily accept that wage as he does not pay rent and that is not fair
As already suggested if you cant afford to live in London go somewhere cheaper
- Susan Lawrence, Clapham, 24/09/2008 22:06
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Shouldn't the council be housing these homeless people?
I used to be a squatter, my friend asked the council for help, they asked him for every address he had been living at the last 40 years!
The fact is if your British, you come down very low on the list for re-housing, which is why these people are forced to squat.
- Anon, london, 24/09/2008 22:06
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As a taxpayer in "Loony Lambeth" it is about time the council sorted out the mess it has made. I don't see why I should have to pay for the Labour council's mistakes. Some of those in charge should resign now!
- Lambeth Taxpayer, Balham, 24/09/2008 22:06
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What gives squatters the same or even more rights than people who work for a living and scrape by to afford to live in this city legally?!
There are far too many people in this country who think the rest of us owe them a living. Stop sponging and have some self-respect. there are charitable agencies (subsidised by taxpayers) who help those truly in need. the rest of you get off your backside and EARN a living and support yourself. Yes London is expensive; if you cant afford to live in London, go somewhere you can afford and adjust your lifestyle accordingly to live within your means.
- Sammy, balham, 24/09/2008 22:06
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Why should an empty property be wasted, with so many homeless in the capital already?
Just because someone squats doesn't mean they don't take care of the space they call home.
You can get bad paying "tenants" you know... and good squatters!
- Cukkuu, London, 24/09/2008 22:06
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It annoys me how squatters think they have every right under the Sun. Can they just get a job and pay rent like everybody else? They cost the tax-payer a lot of money!
- Jose Fernandez, london, 24/09/2008 22:06
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I find it disgusting how people can view leaving a property empty as being perfectly fine when there are homeless people on the street.
Most squatters either couldn't afford accommodation, so would be homeless, or would have to claim housing benefits, being a burden on taxpayers.
Playing music loud all night isn't good, but they have rights, its not like its only squatters that play loud music at night.
- Simon, East Ham, 24/09/2008 22:06
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It just shows that eliminating poverty is the last concern of the council.
Try to apply for housing in your local office!
I was there a few weeks ago. By law I am entitle to apply, but the person behind the desk asked me if I was a drug addict or a convicted criminal coming out of jail.
Apparently these are the criteria for housing these days.
As a single person, one can sleep in the street, and I guess become a criminal by force as it is forbidden to sleep in the street, then take drugs to forget it all, and rob an old lady for my habit. Then I will be considered for housing.
Squatters are mainly people in need of accommodation, not criminals.
I also find it very disturbing,to read the comment in your article about Polish people.
Stop feeding the racism and xenophobia that is the subtext of this article.
According to you, The rich are well behave British, and the poor immigrant thugs.
According the tabloids, the Rich Brits, are behaving very badly and the poor are not important.
- Lauren, London Uk, 24/09/2008 22:06
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Eugene 32, with a kid and squatting, get a job man and get a life.
- David, Isle of Wight, 24/09/2008 22:06
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I used to be a squatter in London as well. I was a good fun actually. Pozdro600...
- Zaghi1921, Poland, 24/09/2008 22:06
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Why is BREAKING & ENTERING legal for squatters with a lengthy process to evict them, yet for the normal person to break into a property the police would be there to arrest and charge with BREAKING & ENTERING within a short space of time.
There was an article in the Daily Mail earlier this year of an agency to advise squatters where there were empty houses for squatters to enter, even advising the best way to enter.
Has this agency been closed down, prosecuted. No I don't suppose so.
Crime does pay.
- Ronald Mills, United Kingdom, 24/09/2008 22:06
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I have lived directly across the road from these blocks for 6 months, never felt threatened, have heard load music on few occasions and was not aware that there were 300 squatters living there until a journalist approached me yesterday.
- Beth Kavanagh, Clapham, London, 24/09/2008 22:06
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I know those people and have been to that squat, it is nothing like those fearful neighbours describe! Maybe the residents should go and get to know the squatters also so they can sleep at night! When living in one of the most expensive cities in the world it is sometimes necessary to take your life into your own hands and house yourself, people should not be judged for this. The neighbours have obviously made the same old common assumptions about the squatters, I believe this is called "being narrow minded". Think for yourself and make your own decisions, people!
- Casey, london, 24/09/2008 22:06
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