Many websites give advice on how to find an empty property and take residence

But the gang of tattooed squatters who had taken up residence within had other ideas. The Listers had fallen victim to the resurgence of organised squatting sweeping the UK. The case this week of a family whose North London home was taken over by two Romanian families is the tip of the iceberg. There are dozens of internet websites advising would-be squatters on how to avoid eviction and defy the law. Angela Lister, 49, of Thames Ditton, Surrey, says: “We were absolutely seething. My husband Archie had tried to get into the house with a builder and the squatters called the police. Archie was escorted off the premises by the police and by a jeering group of squatters.” The police response shocked the Listers. Angela, a mother of four, continues:

“When I first rang to say squatters had taken over the property we were about to renovate we were told there was nothing they could do. I was amazed. These squatters had broken into our house, changed the locks and were in the process of stripping out anything of value, from the boiler down to copper piping. “They even had the gall to demand £3,000 from us in order that they would move out without any fuss. “I naively thought that the squatters must have broken the law several times over. In fact, as there was no witness to the breaking and entering the police said they couldn’t act and we also had no witnesses to prove they had demanded money from us.

Many solicitors then said they couldn’t help as the law in this area is such a minefield. It was an absolute nightmare.” David Foster, a partner and head of dispute resolution at law firm Barlow Robbins and an expert in this field says: “People talk about ‘ squatters’ rights’ but they do not have any. If you are occupying property belongingto someone else then what you are doing is unlawful. “But squatting – unless the police can prove breaking and entering or criminal damage, which is trespass – is against civil law, not criminal law.

It is then up to the homeowner to evict you and this can only be done via an order of possession granted in a county court hearing before a judge.” This means the squatter can sit tight while the owner has to go to court to obtain an eviction notice then wait for bailiffs to go in. Usually squatters will not turn up to the hearing so the notice has to be served on them. The chance of getting costs from the squatters is virtually nil and they are adept at delaying tactics. Angela and Archie Lister bought their property in Surbiton in July, 2007. It had been divided into 10 bedsits so required extensive renovation to turn it into a family home.

Angela says: “One morning my husband found his key wouldn’t fit in the front door lock. There was a moment of incomprehension then he realised what had happened. He was so angry he kicked the door.” Squatters had set up a rudimentary camp with sleeping bags and gas stoves. Angela says: “I have as much sympathy as the next person for the homeless but this was organised.” The Listers eventually obtained a county court hearing after hiring a lawyer. Eviction notices were stuck in the front garden and copies put under the front door. Yet the squatters coolly told them: “We like this place, we

think we will stay for the summer.” Only after the Listers proved that the house was being stripped of fixtures and fittings did they obtain an emergency eviction notice. Angela explains: “We had been told getting bailiffs could take anything up to three months so I suppose we were lucky in that the squatters were in and out within a month.” Many squatters call themselves “artists”. One group took over a £6million house in Mayfair, called themselves The T e m p o r a r y School of Thought, set up a website and ran workshops. Other websites tell would-be squatters to change the locks immediately, apply legitimately for services such as electricity, make sure the property is unoccupied either temporarily or permanently by looking up Land