A mother of two was left penniless and homeless after spending £50,000 during a 15- month legal battle to evict an illegal tenant from her home.
Dy Maurice, who had no landlord insurance, has hit out at a legal system that stops the police from doing anything in cases of squatting, and she has called on MPs to toughen up the law and put an end to the distress and cost caused by what is an ever increasing menace in the United Kingdom.
Ms Maurice’s plight is a stark reminder to anyone who rents out a property, that it could easily be them next. It has been reported that foreign gangs are now exploiting the very weak legislation on squatting, meaning they are able to take over homes from vulnerable property owners. Ms Maurice was just the latest victim who was left homeless and forced to stay in bed & breakfast accommodation.
She says that the law meant police were powerless to remove the squatter, forcing her to fight a 15-month court battle before the bailiffs were finally sent to evict the unwanted occupant.
Yesterday she angrily hit out “Britain is now a squatter’s paradise. We are a complete joke. The law on squatter’s rights is totally and utterly disgraceful, damaging, and soul-destroying and it’s time MPs realised this. I will not stop until this law is changed and the police have every right to remove any squatter. I will do all in my power, as long as it takes, to rid the country of squatters’ rights. It’s so illegal, it’s ridiculous.”
The squatter has now been re-housed but caused £20,000 worth of damage to the £250,000 home in Macclesfield, Cheshire. The alarm system had been ruined, as well as all the lighting, the beds, all the kitchen equipment had been taken from the property and the carpets and curtains were all stained.
Ms Maurice, now unemployed due to ill health lost her entire life savings and has even had debt collectors at her home looking for the squatter.