Flat Mate / Squatter Law

medicnick83

Paramedic
Joined
Aug 23, 2006
Messages
21,005
Hi guys,

I need help urgently to assist a friend.

They live in a flat and have allowed a 'friend' (family friend) to stay with them for a while, it's going on 1 month now but another friend, in discussion mentioned about a new law or something where is a person stays with you for X amount of time (say, 3 months) then they can't kick the person out till "they" find this person another place to stay.

They worried this family friend is using them till this comes into effect and then they can't get them to leave.

At first it was agreed to "help" for only a week or 2, it's now more than a month and the person has not made any effort to find another place to stay.
I need to find this 'law' in black and white and show it to my friends before they get themselves into a situation they can't get themselves out of.
 

F1 Fan

Executive Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2010
Messages
5,340
Why not just kick the guy out now? Surely it would be the easiest option?
 

TheGrove

Expert Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2013
Messages
1,314
When he leaves change the locks and if he comes back call the cops and say he broke in....
 

Rocket Raccoon

Executive Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2011
Messages
8,526
Send him to fetch burgers or pizza and change the locks and pack his bags while he's away.
 

TheGrove

Expert Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2013
Messages
1,314
just make sure that none of his belongings are left in the house to prove that he was ever there.
 

luxe

Expert Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2010
Messages
2,454
Don't be stupid. TALK TO THE GUY.

Showing him a law is only gonna piss him off and cause tension.
 

medicnick83

Paramedic
Joined
Aug 23, 2006
Messages
21,005
The idea here is to keep things civil.
He was supposed to be looking for another place to stay, but that has since apparently stopped - even started joking about moving his furniture in.
They want to keep things civil (as it is a family friend) but also they don't want to 'screw' themselves.
If I can find this 'law' in black and white, they can show him and give him a deadline to find new residence.
Anything else will just cause unnecessary bad blood between everyone which they are trying to avoid.
 

TheGrove

Expert Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2013
Messages
1,314
Don't be stupid. TALK TO THE GUY.

Showing him a law is only gonna piss him off and cause tension.

If the cops are there and he is being accused of breaking in then tension is good, he may give the cops lip then he will have a new home to go to :)

You wont be accused of making him homeless.

Ok maybe thats a bit harsh, just talk to the guy, agreed.
 

Devill

Damned
Joined
Mar 25, 2008
Messages
26,822
Don't be stupid. TALK TO THE GUY.

Showing him a law is only gonna piss him off and cause tension.

Why do people always want to shy away from conflict?

FFS, if the guy is not welcome any longer throw him out today.....
 

ToxicBunny

Oi! Leave me out of this...
Joined
Apr 8, 2006
Messages
113,631
The idea here is to keep things civil.
He was supposed to be looking for another place to stay, but that has since apparently stopped - even started joking about moving his furniture in.
They want to keep things civil (as it is a family friend) but also they don't want to 'screw' themselves.
If I can find this 'law' in black and white, they can show him and give him a deadline to find new residence.
Anything else will just cause unnecessary bad blood between everyone which they are trying to avoid.

Talk to him, put down timelines for him to find a new place, because at end of time frame he has to find somewhere else to stay.
 

Compton_effect

Honorary Master
Joined
Sep 7, 2006
Messages
12,292
If he is a good friend, sit him down and give him an ultimatum.
If not - lots of dirty tactics you can do. Go strict vegetarian, pretend to join some wierd cult, become nudists.

Best one ever to sort out squatters. Guy in Hyde Park found swatters in house he owned that had been empty for 3 months. They had been in long enough to declare squatters rights. No problem - while arranging alternate accomodation he hired a sangoma as caretaker and let him move in...
3 days later the house was empty.
 

IzZzy

Executive Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2004
Messages
5,923
Hi guys,

I need help urgently to assist a friend.

They live in a flat and have allowed a 'friend' (family friend) to stay with them for a while, it's going on 1 month now but another friend, in discussion mentioned about a new law or something where is a person stays with you for X amount of time (say, 3 months) then they can't kick the person out till "they" find this person another place to stay.

They worried this family friend is using them till this comes into effect and then they can't get them to leave.

At first it was agreed to "help" for only a week or 2, it's now more than a month and the person has not made any effort to find another place to stay.
I need to find this 'law' in black and white and show it to my friends before they get themselves into a situation they can't get themselves out of.

Whilst not my expertise, the PIE Act doesn't seem to prescribe any time periods. The only time period that becomes relevant is the time you granted him to stay there.
 

Viva

Expert Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2009
Messages
4,494
Best one ever to sort out squatters. Guy in Hyde Park found swatters in house he owned that had been empty for 3 months. They had been in long enough to declare squatters rights. No problem - while arranging alternate accomodation he hired a sangoma as caretaker and let him move in...
3 days later the house was empty.

:D
 

BLIXEMPIE

Honorary Master
Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
10,400
He's a fscking hoarding user. Kick his anus out. It's beyond civil time now. I had a similar situation with a flatmate. The dumb ho made my life a living hell so I tried to kick her out. She refused. 4 months later I got home and her stuff was out. Best day of my life.
 

seted

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2009
Messages
424
Section 4, sub-sections 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the PIE Act will answer your questions. See Here.

Basically, unless the "friend" is a vulnerable person such as someone elderly, disabled, a child etc, the court will grant an eviction after giving the "friend" a reasonable time to find alternative accommodation (usually a month) taking into account their personal circumstances.

The six month provision usually applies to groups of people who settle on municipal land that must be relocated by a municipality (though it could possibly apply to a single person who is part of one of the vulnerable groups).
 

grok

Honorary Master
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
28,737
Suffocation .. with a pillow .. in the living room.

Problem solved.
 
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