Squatters

Times

February 22, 2003

Squatters occupy large London houses

By Chris Johnston

SQUATTERS have taken over seven large houses in Kennington, South London, that the local council had left lying empty for almost a year.

Three Liberal Democrat councillors plan to call for an inquiry to determine why the houses were not properly secured after Southwark council — which is under no overall control, the Liberal Democrats holding the most seats — had another group of squatters evicted last April.

Local residents were furious that the new squatters, who include a number of Spanish students, had managed to get utilities reconnected and were now living rent-free.

Ignacio González, 21, an English-language student at nearby Lambeth College, said that he was living in one house with seven friends. “This is great — we’ve got hot water, electricity, heat. My parents think it’s great we don’t have to pay to live in England.”

His housemate Juan Carlos Inigo said that they had fixed up the houses and were taking care of them, but added that the neighbours had not been too friendly.

One local resident, Alex Madina, said: “They are stopping deserving families from using these homes.” More than 13,000 people are on the housing waiting list in Southwark.

The three-storey, five- bedroom homes had been handed back to the council by a housing association and were to be refurbished to accommodate large families.

The squatters have posted notices outside the houses declaring: “We live in this property and we intend to stay. Anyone who enters by violence, we will prosecute you. If you want to get us out, you will have to take out a summons.”

The three Liberal Democrat councillors, Danny McCarthy, Catriona Moore and Mark Pursey, said that they wanted to know why funding had not been available to carry out the refurbishment more quickly.

Southwark council’s executive member for housing, Beverley Bassom, said that the houses would be refurbished next month. “It has taken some time to secure this funding, which is why there has been a delay.”

She conceded that it could be “really frustrating” to see properties lying empty when there was a huge demand for housing in the borough. But the squatters may not have long to enjoy their free accommodation: Ms Bassom said that the council had begun legal proceedings to evict them.C

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