{"id":1721,"date":"2024-02-22T11:27:42","date_gmt":"2024-02-22T11:27:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.schofields.ltd.uk\/?p=1721"},"modified":"2024-02-22T13:41:03","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T13:41:03","slug":"holiday-home-squatters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.schofields.ltd.uk\/blog\/1721\/holiday-home-squatters\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Evict Holiday Home Squatters"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"eviction<\/p>\n

Holiday home owners dread the thought of undesirable guests, especially those who refuse to leave after their booking has ended. Squatters who target your holiday cottage whilst it\u2019s empty can also harm your holiday letting business. Whether they intend to extort money or stay in your property for as long as possible, the expense and inconvenience caused can be stressful.<\/p>\n

There have also been incidents where holiday homes have been rented for a few days and then the guest fraudulently sublets the property long term and disappears with the rental money. The duped renter is then unwilling to leave.<\/p>\n

What rights do holiday home owners have to evict squatters? If you do find yourself in a squatting situation, here are some things you can do to reclaim your property.<\/p>\n

How to evict squatters from your holiday home or Airbnb<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Although dealing with squatters in your holiday home is distressing, you should never resort to violence or a threat of violence to remove squatters from your property. It\u2019s important that owners take the correct course of action.<\/p>\n

The good news is that the legal position for guests who have outstayed their welcome or squatters in short-term holiday lets is not as complex as it is for empty properties and longer-term lets.<\/p>\n

If your property is let to holidaymakers on a short-term holiday let basis you have the right to move them out at the end of their rental period without going to court if they do not leave. Holiday lets are one of the few exceptions under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977.<\/p>\n

You could also contact the police for help evicting the squatters, but they can be reluctant to act. An alternative is to hire a bailiff who will oversee the departure of the former guests, and attend with a locksmith to change the locks if necessary.<\/p>\n

Check with your insurance to see if you\u2019re covered<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Unfortunately, there may be occasions when evicting overstaying guests or squatters isn\u2019t a simple process. Holiday home insurance won\u2019t keep squatters out of your property, but it can help you recover the property.<\/p>\n

Our insurance<\/a> offers an optional legal expenses policy which covers legal and eviction costs for anyone who does not have the owners permission to be in the property.\u00a0Our insurance will also cover malicious damage should squatters damage your holiday home.<\/p>\n

Without the appropriate insurance, you won\u2019t be compensated for damage that occurs due to squatters or the associated legal costs of evicting them, so check if your policy provides cover.<\/p>\n

How to minimise the risk of holiday home squatters<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Here are some security tips<\/a> and ideas to help you deter squatters and make it as difficult as possible for them to occupy your holiday home when it is unoccupied:<\/p>\n