SQUATTERS are taking advantage of Perth’s highest residential vacancy rate in 20 years by moving into empty rental homes and barricading themselves inside for weeks.

Trespassers were also changing locks, breaking door handles and threatening landlords to squat in empty rental properties or vacant homes that were up for sale.

Camera Icon Squatters in this Perth left rotting food. Credit: News Limited

EBM RentCover executive general manager Sharon Fox-Slater said WA was now the country’s hotspot for squatting problems.

Ms Fox-Slater, whose company is one of Australia’s biggest providers of landlord insurance, said while she used to see a squatting related claim every few years, incidents were becoming commonplace in WA.

“The downturn, high vacancy rate and number of job losses is taking its toll,” Ms Fox-Slater said.

She said in one recent case in Karratha squatters had conducted a “renovation” on the property – changing the locks, painting the walls and installing new windows.

Real Estate Plus general manager Brock Gurr had also encountered a rise in squatting incidents, both on vacant rental properties and homes on the market.

“In one home they smashed the door handles and used the windows to get in and out,” Mr Gurr said.

“They were using the oven, had food in the house and had the airconditioning running.”

Camera Icon Property inspector looking over this Perth apartment that has just had squatters evicted from it. Credit: News Limited

Camera Icon Rubbish was left everywhere in this Perth apartment. Credit: News Limited

The president of Real Estate Institute of WA, Hayden Groves, recently had to call the police to evict a squatter in a property his agency manages. The home was being prepared for new tenants.

Judy Luxton, who is based in the UK, had squatters evicted from her two-bedroom apartment in the Perth CBD this week. The property had been rented but the tenant illegally sublet the home.

The subletters didn’t pay rent and barricaded themselves within the unit.

The Sunday Times joined the property manager in an inspection of the building after the eviction this week which revealed the apartment had been trashed with food left to rot, furniture dissembled and carpets stained beyond repair.

It is believed about five people had been living in the unit.

“I know people are people, but I don’t understand how someone can think it’s OK to do that to a half-a-million-dollar apartment,” Ms Luxton said.

In WA, squatter’s rights can only be claimed if an individual has had possession of a property for 12 years or more.

There are more than 10,000 properties available for rent in Perth, up 35 per cent from this time last year.