Not Blending In

Mayfair Squat
@Ronrybs (21503)
London, England
February 8, 2017 3:04pm CST
Ambling around Town, yesterday, we ended up by Hyde Park which put us near The Grenadier pub. It was a little while before opening time, so we went for a wander around Mayfair and Belgravia. By chance, we passed a squat that had been in the news. One of these posh houses had been taken over by squatters who were evicted by the Russian owner. They moved down the street and took up residence at this multi-million pile and have been there for a week or two. Many of these houses are investments, so I am wondering if the owners even know what has happened.
8 people like this
6 responses
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (97908)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
8 Feb 17
That is one of the most difficult things for residents if the owner is not close by or even in the same country. We have people here in Latvia that have issues with their apartments and find out that the owner is in the US or other country and they cannot do anything until someone find the owner. This even means eviction at the worst or pooling money together until repairs can be made for the good of all until the owner responds.
2 people like this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21503)
• London, England
9 Feb 17
There is a housing shortage in the UK, and while we can't all live in expensive houses it is not a good advert for how the Government is dealing with it. I would be thinking a lot about absent landlords and empty property
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502189)
• Italy
9 Feb 17
I have read this morning that this also happened to an old elegant house in Lugano, not far from here. I think that the house was bought as an investment and nobody lives there. A group of homeless has decided to take their residence.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502189)
• Italy
9 Feb 17
@Ronrybs I have some sympathy too. I know for sure that this also happens in Italy.
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21503)
• London, England
9 Feb 17
I was beginning to think this only happened over here! I do have a some sympathy for their aims
1 person likes this
Sue21
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36847)
• Pamplona, Spain
8 Feb 17
Lots of that goes on here. But the housing situation is very difficult for a lot of people as there is no such thing as a Council Housing System like I knew over there. Owners have no rights it seems. The ones who take over the place can get thrown out but they have to be evicted by the Police. The owners it seems cannot do a thing it all has to be done by the Courts. You cannot even lock them out in some places.
1 person likes this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21503)
• London, England
9 Feb 17
Not an expert, but broadly I think similar rules apply here. As most squatters don't contest the court order, for rich companies it is not a big expense... probably!
1 person likes this
Pat Z Anthony
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
8 Feb 17
Squatters can really cause many issues. This is a shame.
1 person likes this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21503)
• London, England
9 Feb 17
True, but I feel there is a point here. We've had a growing housing shortage for decades and Government action is short term, frequently too little, too late.
Marie
@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
24 Feb 17
How do they get away with this ? I wouldn't think the owners would be happy
1 person likes this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21503)
• London, England
27 Feb 17
I suspect they don't know yet. so many of these houses are bought as investiments by foriegn wealth funds or individuals and they are the ones who need to bring legal action to shift them
1 person likes this
John Roberts
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
8 Feb 17
People living rough in such places has been common in the UK for a long time.
1 person likes this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21503)
• London, England
9 Feb 17
It has; we've been struggling, various Governments assure me, with a housing shortage for decades and stunts like this remind people of the short term goals of the people in power
1 person likes this