The legal position on squatting
Section 144 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 made squatting in a residential building a criminal offence. Where squatters are in a residential property, police can remove them without a court order. Squatting in commercial premises remains a civil matter and requires a possession order through the county or High Court. We attend for clearance only after the squatters have been lawfully removed — we do not assist with the removal itself, which is a matter for police or enforcement officers.
What squatted properties typically contain
Squatted residential properties most often involve a small number of residents — typically 1-4 — who have moved in over weeks or months. Common contents: makeshift bedding (mattresses on the floor, sleeping bags), cooking equipment (camping stoves, improvised fire pits), personal belongings of variable quantity, drug paraphernalia (needles, foil, pipes), and human waste where the plumbing was not functional. Squatted commercial premises may involve much larger groups and may include amplification equipment, sound systems, lighting rigs, and significant volumes of personal property.
Biohazard protocols
Squatted properties almost always require biohazard treatment. Our IICRC-certified supervisors lead the work, with full PPE, sharps protocols and decontamination products. Needles and other sharps are handled to BS 7320 standards, double-bagged and disposed of through licensed clinical-waste channels. Human and animal waste is removed with appropriate containment and decontamination of affected surfaces.
Damage assessment and reinstatement
Squatted properties commonly involve damage: doors and locks forced for the original entry; plumbing modified or disabled; electricity by-passed or stolen; walls daubed with paint or marker. We assess the damage and produce a written reinstatement schedule with indicative costings. The reinstatement work itself is usually carried out by the landlord's regular trades, but we can coordinate where useful.
Documentation for insurance and prosecution
Where the landlord intends to pursue an insurance claim for the damage, or where the squatters may be prosecuted, our documentation is built for both purposes. Photographic record of the property's state on arrival; inventory of squatter belongings (which may be needed by police for evidential purposes); written record of biohazard found and treated; Waste Transfer Notes for all disposed material.
Frequently asked questions
Will you help me remove squatters?
No — that is a matter for police or enforcement officers. We attend after lawful removal has been completed.
How quickly can you attend after police have cleared a property?
Same-day or next-day attendance. The duty supervisor on our 24-hour helpline can coordinate the booking and confirm arrival time within hours of your call.
Do you handle properties with drug paraphernalia?
Yes. IICRC-certified biohazard response, sharps protocols, full PPE. Needles and other sharps are disposed of through licensed clinical-waste channels.
What if the squatters' belongings include items of value?
We inventory them and hold them in secure storage. The squatters retain rights to their possessions even after lawful removal, and the Tort Notice process applies to the eventual disposal.
How much does squatter clearance cost?
Typically £800-£2,500 for a one-to-three-bedroom residential property, depending on the biohazard severity and the volume of contents. Commercial squatter clearances are quoted individually.