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The law on squatting - what squatting is, squatters' rights, removing squatters, getting your property back from squatters and adverse possession. Includes information from the withdrawn EX332 and EX333 guidance.

• Overview

  Squatting is when someone deliberately enters property without permission…

• Squatting in non-residential properties

  A non-residential property is any building or land that is not designed to…

• Squatters' rights to property

  A long-term squatter can become the registered owner of property or land…

• Stop squatters legally possessing property

  HM Land Registry will tell you if squatters apply for legal ownership of…

• Remove squatters

  You can remove squatters using an interim possession order (IPO) or making…

• Where to get help

  You may be classed as homeless if you’re squatting. Get advice from…

How to take court action to repossess a property or evict a tenant if you're owed money for rent or a mortgage

Landlords need to follow certain procedures when evicting tenants - find out about eviction notices, harassment and illegal evictions, and going to court

• Rules your landlord must follow

  Your landlord must follow strict procedures if they want you to leave…

• Accelerated possession

  Landlords can sometimes evict tenants using ‘accelerated possession’. This…

• Eviction court hearings

  If your landlord goes to court to evict you, there will be a ‘possession…

• Eviction notices

  If you do not leave your home by the date given in an outright possession…

• Harassment and illegal evictions

  It’s a crime for your landlord to harass you or try to force you out of a…

Application form ADV1: registration of a person in adverse possession.

How to apply for a full or partial completion certificate after building work on a higher-risk building has been completed.

• Updated: 27 March 2025

Quarterly National Statistics on possession claim actions in county courts by mortgage lenders and social and private landlords.

• Updated: 13 May 2021

The penalties if you are caught taking or dealing drugs - drug classification, fines and prison sentences

If someone is occupying your property without consent, use this form to ask the court for a possession order that the person or people leave within 24 hours.

A trust is a way of managing assets (money, investments, land or buildings) for people - types of trust, how they are taxed, where to get help.

Tenants can use this form to tell the court why they have rent arrears and if they disagree with what their landlord has put on the ‘claim for possession’ form.