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N/A - Squatters in my garage - PJ Steam

Not quite a motoring query, but hopefully an interesting narrative that may induce interest. Someone in the street in which I have a lock-up garage had removed the padlock and moved her car into my garage and phoned me to say, "I am taking over your garage". Police were called and they advised her to remove the car; (they were not interested in prosecuting for breaking and entering as there was no witnesses or proof) she did this but allowed her son to garage a car instead. The son buys and sells cars from home (not in this street) and the car in the garage is SORN. She has parked her car on the adjacent road so that the garage entrance is now blocked. The police are still not interested because the son's trespass is a civil law issue not a criminal offence. I have contacted the police and DVLA, the former saying they can't provide the son's details because of the Data Protection Act, and DVLA has a V888 form which I have filled in and sent to them which allows me to register the issue with them, I am still waiting for a reply. My questions really are: what legal rights do these people have in doing what they've done and what legal rights do I have in getting them out without fear of altercation or reprisal. I am a 72 year old pensioner and this has caused my wife and me quite a few sleepness nights.

N/A - Squatters in my garage - Middleman

Do you own the garage or do you rent it?

N/A - Squatters in my garage - bathtub tom

Remove the car from the garage and park it on the road. Immobilise it (builder's expanding foam up the tailpipe) and phone the DVLA to report an untaxed and uninsured car on the road.

N/A - Squatters in my garage - skidpan

Remove the car from the garage and park it on the road. Immobilise it (builder's expanding foam up the tailpipe) and phone the DVLA to report an untaxed and uninsured car on the road.

I would be very careful before even touching the car let alone vandalising it. Such actions could well lead to you being charged with criminal damage.

If you own the garage you will need to go to court to get them evicted.

If you rent it you need to contact the letting agent and make them aware of the situation pointing out that since you no longer have the use of it due to the illegal actions of others you will not be paying future rent. Make sure you give them the contact details of the new "occupants".

N/A - Squatters in my garage - PJ Steam

Thank you for taking the time to reply

N/A - Squatters in my garage - PJ Steam

I own it and have land registry deeds to prove it

N/A - Squatters in my garage - Falkirk Bairn

Put a nice BIG Padlock on the garage door - his car / ££ is then in a garage owned by you.

If he takes cutters to your padlock - that is criminal damage to your property & therefore an offence.

Alternatively park a 1 x ton back of road metal outside your garage - assuming you are not blocking anybody!

N/A - Squatters in my garage - skidpan

I own it and have land registry deeds to prove it

Solicitors ASAP.

Do not do anything to antagonise them.

N/A - Squatters in my garage - Gibbo_Wirral

The police are still not interested because the son's trespass is a civil law issue not a criminal offence.

I really hate it when the police don't know their own laws. Trespass becomes a criminal offence when:

s61(4) - Failing to comply with police direction to leave land

s62(b) - they have at least 1 vehicle on the land

s68 - Aggravated trespass Intentionally and with intention to intimidate, obstruct or disrupt the lawful activity of others

S69 - as above

All four of them could be used to arrest and prosecute someone. There are plenty of others.

You have right on your side here. If you can't afford solicitors then go to the papers, they will name and shame the individuals and a bit of social media mob justice will soon put a stop to their disgusting behaviour.

Edited by Gibbo_Wirral on 14/12/2020 at 12:32

N/A - Squatters in my garage - PJ Steam

Thank you Gibbo_Wirral for taking the time to reply with your very interesting comments with which I shall start a new police enquiry regarding the car now in the garage.

N/A - Squatters in my garage - Gerry Sanderson

Gibbo

Very interesting Can you please give act and section to what you state,

That what you quote is if I remember correctly and without detailed research is legislation specific to deal with illegal possession of land by the traveling fraternity and not incidents as described.

I always was aware trespass alone is not a criminal offence unless damage is or has been caused.

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N/A - Squatters in my garage - Gerry Sanderson

Gibbo ...... as you were

Read your comments as applying to blocked access post.

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