Squatting And The Law: Remove Squatters - GOV.UK

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1. Home
2. Housing and local services
3. Repossessions, homelessness, emergency housing and evictions

Squatting and the law Skip contents

Contents

1. Overview
2. Squatting in non-residential properties
3. Squatters' rights to property
4. Stop squatters legally possessing property
5. Remove squatters
6. Where to get help

Remove squatters

You can remove squatters using an interim possession order (IPO) or making a claim for possession.

Do not try to remove the squatters yourself using force or the threat of force - you’re committing a crime if you do.

Get legal advice from a solicitor if you need help making a claim for possession.

Interim possession orders

You can only apply for an IPO if it’s been 28 days or less since you found out your property’s been squatted.

Fill in an application for an IPO and send it to your local county court.

The court will send you confirmation of your IPO within a few days. They will also send you documents that you must give to the squatters within 48 hours.

After being served with an IPO squatters can be sent to prison if they do not:

• leave your property within 24 hours
• stay away from your property for 12 months

To get final possession of the property, you must make a claim for possession. You can do this on your IPO application form or by applying online.

Exceptions

You cannot use an IPO if:

• you’re also making a claim for damages caused by the squatters - instead you should make an ordinary claim for possession
• you’re trying to evict former tenants, sub-tenants or licensees

Claim for possession

Make a claim for possession if it’s been more than 28 days since you found out about the squatters.

Previous:Stop squatters legally possessing property Next:Where to get help View a printable version of the whole guide

Related content

• Private renting for tenants: evictions in England
• Council and housing association evictions
• Help if you’re homeless or about to become homeless
• Report squatters in a council property
• Your property boundaries

Explore the topic

• Repossessions, homelessness, emergency housing and evictions

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