Demand for legal expenses cover has trebled in two years
The threat from squatters occupying vacant buildings has led to a massive growth in property owners seeking insurance cover, according to Aviva.
Squatters are using online sources to identify vacant property and to gain advice on their legal rights. The Home Office has issued its own guidelines for concerned residential property owners.
Aviva said it has seen demand for legal expenses cover for property-related disputes treble in the past two years.
Currently, a third of claims on legal expenses insurance policies provided by Aviva are connected to the eviction of unauthorised occupants.
Matt Gordon, underwriting manager at Aviva, said: “Insurance broker feedback to the company has shown that many property owners do not know where they stand legally when it comes to removing squatters, while squatters themselves tend to be well informed about their legal position.”
He added: “We have seen cases where squatters have stripped a commercial property, causing around £150,000 of damage.
"More malicious squatters will destroy property within the building, ripping out fixtures and fittings to be sold for scrap and even blackmailing the property owner by offering to leave the property in exchange for cash."
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