Widely reported in the press<\/a> last week were the travails of one Gordon Ramsay.<\/p>\n Everyone\u2019s favourite sweary executive chef has had a few problems with squatters. And these folks are not to be trifled with it, it seems. They are sophisticated squatters with an excellent understanding of every nuance of the current legislation. As a result, these circumstances are going to cost Mr Ramsay a great deal of money and quite a lot of hassle if he wants to get them out.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll update you on what has happened and, significantly,\u00a0why<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0how<\/em>\u00a0it can happen. Also, if we may, we\u2019d like to use this article to warn you how best to protect your vacant commercial property from squatter occupation \u2013 as much as it\u2019s possible to do so.<\/p>\n Which would you prefer: prevention or cure? In this case, there\u2019s an unequivocal, simple answer.<\/p>\n\n Here are the details:<\/p>\n Gordon Ramsay owns what the media have been referring to as a \u201cswanky boozer\u201d. In now-gentrified Camden, costing an impressive \u00a313 million, the York & Albany is a gastro pub and hotel serving excellent food alongside high-style beer and fine wine to discerning customers.<\/p>\n Or rather, it was.<\/p>\n The Grade II-listed pub is currently up for sale and apparently being prepared for a new tenant, but it has been empty for some time.<\/p>\n Step forward a group of six highly informed individuals calling themselves the\u00a0Camden Art Caf\u00e9<\/em>. They have used kitchen appliances owned by Ramsay to barricade the doors and have glued the locks to prevent others from access.<\/p>\n Their plan? In an area beset by social inequality, was to open a soup kitchen offering free food \u2013 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. And here is where it gets exceptionally interesting:<\/p>\n With in-depth knowledge of the law surrounding squatting, a notice pinned to the pub door announced the following (with a few author edits):<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026We occupy this property at all times. Any attempt to enter these premises without our permission is therefore a criminal offence\u2026<\/p>\n \u2026If you attempt to enter by violence or threatening violence, we will prosecute you. You may receive a sentence of up to six months\u2019 imprisonment or a fine of up to \u00a35,000.<\/p>\n \u2026You will have to issue a claim for possession in the County Court or in the High Court\u201d.<\/p>\n Later, they told the Telegraph during, believe it or not, an ad hoc press conference that they were \u201coccupying this property under squatting law, which is our right in this country\u201d.<\/p>\n Gallingly for Mr Ramsay, they described the property as \u201cour house\u201d and told us how they had already been hosting guests.<\/p>\n And \u2013<\/p>\n They\u2019re one hundred per cent right. About all of it.<\/em><\/p>\n As the law now stands, since 2012, under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishing of Offenders Act, it has been\u00a0illegal to occupy a residential property without permission of the owner<\/strong>.<\/a> (You may recall that, pre-2012, \u201csquatters\u2019 rights\u201d were all over the news. Clearly, it was the stuff of nightmares for so many people returning from their holidays to find that their home was no longer their own.)<\/p>\n There\u2019s a loophole, however, that has still not been plugged:<\/p>\n The legislation missed\u00a0commercial properties<\/strong>.<\/p>\n As a commercial landlord or property manager, you cannot remove squatters. Residential, yes. Commercial \u2013 no. And, should you try to use any force whatsoever, or threaten to, our friends in Camden are right: you would be breaking the law.<\/em><\/p>\n As Gordon Ramsay has discovered, simply being in your vacant pub, restaurant, office, factory, or warehouse is not illegal. However, should the occupiers:<\/p>\n Then – the police can get involved. Otherwise, it\u2019s deemed to be a civil matter and law enforcement agencies turn into chocolate tea pots.<\/p>\n The following key point is missing from the list but we want to highlight it separately:\u00a0squatters must leave when a court tells them to<\/strong>. Should they try to stay put, the police can use the full force of the law.<\/p>\n Otherwise, it\u2019s deemed a civil matter<\/p>\n This last point has an update:<\/p>\n This week, the York & Albany squatters were issued legal letters, the administration of which Ramsay has called an \u201cabsolute nightmare\u201d and no doubt an expensive one at that. Due to this court action, the property will soon be back to normal.<\/em><\/p>\n So, this story has a happy, if high-priced, ending.<\/p>\n As vacant commercial property security specialists, Clearway wonders what measures Gordon Ramsay\u2019s \u201cpeople\u201d are now taking to safeguard the building and prevent people from getting in.<\/p>\n The whole point is to stop this issue before it starts. Security is your responsibility, and there are quite a few things that you can do.<\/p>\n Hostelries in urban areas are tricky; they signal their vacant status loudly and can become an easy target. But, all buildings can be vulnerable to intrusion not least from people clued up on the law, as are our friends from Camden Art Cafe.<\/p>\n Start with this:<\/p>\n A\u00a0risk assessment\u00a0<\/a>from Clearway will reveal the property\u2019s weak points, with specialist guidance and advice on your best next steps.<\/p>\n Your bespoke plan will depend on location, size, use, and length of time between tenancies and several other key facets. With a risk assessment, forewarned is forearmed; without an independent review such as this, you could be investing in impractical, ineffective, big-ticket measures \u2013 or worse, rest on your laurels with a no-action policy to leave your property highly exposed.<\/p>\n Products and Services from Clearway<\/p>\n These products deliver Fort Knox-type protection and are a super-strong visual deterrent.<\/p>\n Fixed within an internal framing system, we fit heavy-duty\u00a0steel screens<\/strong>\u00a0over the building\u2019s window or door frame. They\u2019re impossible to wrench open or get past and are constructed in such a way as to allow ventilation and airflow, which reduces mould.<\/p>\n Steel doors<\/strong>\u00a0are imposing, impenetrable doors with keyless security code entry system functionality. Only those with authorised access can enter, which means squatters have no chance.<\/p>\n These work hard all day and night to monitor the property from a high position.<\/p>\n Contemporary CCTV offers ultra-sharp image definition, with footage that you can see directly or which can be transmitted instantaneously to trained staff at our 24\/7 ARC (Alarm Receiving Centre<\/a>), where highly trained staff can act accordingly.<\/p>\n These cameras work on long-life batteries and are easy to look after.<\/p>\n Video verified alarm technology<\/a> from Clearway is wireless and connects to a mobile network alarm system. Tamper-proof, weather-proof, and quick to install \u2013 when activated, they emit a loud noise and record a series of still images. These still pictures are then strung together to create a ten-second clip of the disturbance, which again is sent to our ARC for further action if necessary.<\/p>\n Property inspections are well worth considering, especially if you live and work at some distance from the premises in question. Clearway works with highly qualified specialists who will spot immediately the tell-tale signs of intrusion (or attempted intrusion).<\/p>\n Also, they can remove rubbish and post from entrances and doorways \u2013 always a giveaway sign of vacancy.<\/p>\nTrouble At Mill<\/h2>\n
![\"commercial](\"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/squatters.webp\")
\nTake Notice \u2013 These Squatters Mean Business<\/h2>\n
The Law Regarding Commercial Squatting<\/h2>\n
When Can the Police Act?<\/h2>\n
\n
![\"Clearway](\"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/evicting-squatters-from-my-property-peaceably.jpg\")
\nAvoid Getting Your Fingers Burned<\/h2>\n
Steel Security Screens and Doors<\/h3>\n
![\"Clearway](\"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Clearway-Steel-Screens-scaled.jpg\")
\nTemporary CCTV Surveillance<\/h3>\n
![\"CCTV](\"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/temporary-cctv-clearway.jpg\")
\nWireless Vacant Property Alarms<\/h3>\n
![\"video](\"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Video-Verified.webp\")
\nProperty Inspections<\/h3>\n
![\"Clearway](\"https:\/\/www.clearway.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/property-inspections-clearway-scaled.jpg\")
\nOther Measures<\/h2>\n