hello and once again its time for another spoon of bicarbonate of grumpy
today its chav day and some have just moved in to park lane.
SCROUNGING squatters have set up home in two seven-storey mansions on London’s Park Lane — worth a total of £30MILLION.
The 20 crusties, some of whom sneaked in through an open basement door, are living rent-free yards from Madonna’s luxury pad.
They spend their time strumming guitars while letting three huge dogs foul the rooms The scruffy squatters boasted last night of the “magical” views of Hyde Park.
And the scroungers, whose presence in the exclusive area has horrified posh locals, asked: “Why would we live anywhere else?”
The hippies — aged 21 to 45 — moved into the properties, with a combined value of £30million, two months ago.
Since then they have rubbed shoulders with the mega-rich residents of the capital’s most exclusive street, lined with flash car dealerships including Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin.
Their seven-storey paradises share a clear view over the park, where the group walk their smelly dogs.
And one squatter, 27-year-old Martin, from Cape Town, South Africa, said: “The view at sunset over Hyde Park is just magic — especially from the penthouse. I really love it here.”
The loafers spend their time strumming guitars and creating “art” in the 12,000sq ft, 12-room homes.
They claim the properties — previously used as offices — had stood empty for about two years.
And they are able to live there because squatting is NOT illegal if entry to an empty property is not forced and there is no criminal damage caused by the squatters Owners must obtain court orders to boot out unwanted occupants.
The freehold to both properties is owned by the Duke of Westminster via his company Grosvenor (Mayfair) Estate.
There are also a small number of leaseholds, controlled by property investment firms based in Guernsey and the British Virgin Islands.
No legal action had been taken to remove the squatters last night. The owners only learned they had moved in when they were told by The Sun.
Inside, the magnificent homes are now a clutter of amateur art, acoustic guitars and overflowing ashtrays.
More dishevelled-looking squatters arrive virtually every day. Some stay weeks while others drift off quickly.
The sole price of admission is an electric heater to warm the vast rooms — as there is no hot water or central heating.
Three huge dogs roam freely about the houses, leaving droppings everywhere.
Martin brazenly asked The Sun to urge its readers to send money and furniture.
He said: “A lot of those here have to get by on Jobseeker’s Allowance. There was no furniture, so we had to bring our own. If anyone could send us money or furniture it would be great.
“We’ve no TV and make our own music to keep ourselves entertained.”
He added: “There’s quite a large squatters community in London and we always pass on information. We’d noticed these houses had been empty for about two years. We got in through an open basement door.”
One of the few Brits at the posh address — also home to Australians and South Americans — is Meg, 21, thought to live on a student loan.
She said: “It’s much better when squatters move into a rich person’s home like this, as the owner can obviously afford to have us here.
“I suppose some people would say I should get a job — but it doesn’t really suit at the moment.”
One local estate agent said: “It’s a real waste. Each of these properties is worth £12-15million even in a state of disrepair.”
Ian Brimhurst, 58, a member of The Westminster Homeowners’ Association, said: “I’m very upset. We don’t want this sort of thing blighting such a beautiful part of London.”
The Duke’s spokesman refused to comment.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/ne ... 158953.ece
AAG
only in this pampered country can layabout scumbags move illegally in to a building like this and claim squatters rights.
why arent the mets finest down there with dogs and police vans smashing their way in to the house and arresting these scruffy layabouts ?
if they resist give them a taste of baton and then drag them out.
but no in this mamby pampby country they must go through the courts for an eviction order.
the law needs to be changed so that this is a criminal offence and the police can take action.
as to the foreigners if they,ve been here 2 years whats their immigration status are they illegal so why are,nt hm customs and immigration there too ?
as for the scum martin asking for money and furniture i know what i would give him .
as for meg and co not having time to get a job should see their benefits stopped immediatly and how can get benefits for a squat ???
this country is unbeliveable no wonder so many foreigners are clamouring to get in.
in a time when people are struggling to survive and working all the hours they can these scrounging loafers need to be stopped.
AAG
scruffy squatters move in to park lane the AA grumpy column
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Oscar Namechange
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scruffy squatters move in to park lane the AA grumpy column
pantoandy;1115997 wrote:
.
as to the foreigners if they,ve been here 2 years whats their immigration status are they illegal so why are,nt hm customs and immigration there too ?
as for the scum martin asking for money and furniture i know what i would give him .
as for meg and co not having time to get a job should see their benefits stopped immediatly and how can get benefits for a squat ???
this country is unbeliveable no wonder so many foreigners are clamouring to get in.
in a time when people are struggling to survive and working all the hours they can these scrounging loafers need to be stopped.
AAG
Frankly.... It's their own fault. Should one be in the position to own such a mansion, then they should hire adequet protection or security.
Unfortunately, squatters have rights. Although i dis-agree heartilly with them and see them as nothing more than burglers, they do have rights. Your grumpiness would be better suited at lobbying Parliment to end sqatters rights. Until the law is changed, people like this will continue to take advantage. You can't blame them if the dumb-aresse law in this country allows them to do it in the first place.
.
as to the foreigners if they,ve been here 2 years whats their immigration status are they illegal so why are,nt hm customs and immigration there too ?
as for the scum martin asking for money and furniture i know what i would give him .
as for meg and co not having time to get a job should see their benefits stopped immediatly and how can get benefits for a squat ???
this country is unbeliveable no wonder so many foreigners are clamouring to get in.
in a time when people are struggling to survive and working all the hours they can these scrounging loafers need to be stopped.
AAG
Frankly.... It's their own fault. Should one be in the position to own such a mansion, then they should hire adequet protection or security.
Unfortunately, squatters have rights. Although i dis-agree heartilly with them and see them as nothing more than burglers, they do have rights. Your grumpiness would be better suited at lobbying Parliment to end sqatters rights. Until the law is changed, people like this will continue to take advantage. You can't blame them if the dumb-aresse law in this country allows them to do it in the first place.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
scruffy squatters move in to park lane the AA grumpy column
I did not think that squatters' rights extended to buildings that were not registered as dwellings.
The downside to this law, often referred to as 'squatters' law' is that it is usually the undeserving that apply it. They then abuse the premises leaving a bill for cleaning and repairs.
On the other side, there are a lot of homes that are empty for a long time. Unfortunately, those who are deserving do not apply the law. The law also places an onus on the 'squatters' to contact the landlord with the information that they have taken up residency in their property.
The downside to this law, often referred to as 'squatters' law' is that it is usually the undeserving that apply it. They then abuse the premises leaving a bill for cleaning and repairs.
On the other side, there are a lot of homes that are empty for a long time. Unfortunately, those who are deserving do not apply the law. The law also places an onus on the 'squatters' to contact the landlord with the information that they have taken up residency in their property.