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Shapps slams “bizarre” ruling on squatters

Wednesday, 7 September 2011 11:57 AM

Housing minister Grant Shapps has attacked a judge’s ruling that a London council must hand over a list of empty homes to squatters as a “bizarre decision that flies in the face of common sense”.

Judge Fiona Henderson ruled yesterday that Camden Council must comply with a Freedom of Information request from the Advisory Service for Squatters and publish the list of vacant council and privately owned homes.

According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, Camden had argued that disclosure would compromise the prevention or detection of crime and that the number of squatted properties in the south London borough of Lambeth had doubled after a similar list was published.

Shapps said: “We've been clear that we want to bring more empty homes back into use, which is why I'm making £100 million available to help council-led efforts to do so and rewarding those that house people in former empty homes through the New Homes Bonus.

"But I also want to shut the door on so-called 'squatter's rights' once and for all, and end the misery, expense and hassle that far too many people have had to endure for too long, which is why we are consulting on making squatting a criminal offence."

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