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Squatters leave house in squalid state
SQUATTERS left behind a trail of rubbish after finally being evicted from a home, up for sale at £1m, in a sought-after area of Oxford.
The eight squatters abandoned the three-storey house, in Walton Street, Jericho, after living there for more than five weeks - forcing the owners to take it off the market during their occupation.
They left behind beer cans, cigarettes, rubbish and old magazines in all nine of the house's rooms.
A wardrobe and fridge were on their side and two sinks were filled with rubbish.
In one bedroom, a squatter had put up an advert from estate agents Carter Jonas offering the house for sale for £1m, while in another the stolen 'for sale' sign rested against a wall.
The joint-owner, who asked not to be named, said it would now take days to clear up the mess.
He added: "It was unfortunate that this all happened and I don't know if it was all a response to a television programme (about houses on the market).
"But through that it became known that here was a large house which was empty."
The eight homeless people moved in at the end of February and claimed squatters' rights.
Police said they tricked one of the owners into handing over his keys by claiming to be interested buyers.
But one of the squatters said they got in through a downstairs kitchen window which had been left open.
On March 6, police knocked down the front door and arrested the squatters after reports the house was being used for drugs.
But they were released without charge later that day, walked back to the empty house and moved in again.
On Tuesday last week, Challenor Gardiner Solicitors secured a possession order at Oxford County Court giving the squatters seven days to leave. It was served on them the next day.
Bailiffs arrived at the house on Tuesday but the squatters had already left.
The owner added: "I'm very annoyed at the condition in which it has been left, and very annoyed they got in in the first place.
"We recognised we needed a possession order to get them out. That having been done, it's very upsetting to see the condition it's been left in.
"There will be a lot of clearing up to be done. This must serve as a warning to others to make sure their houses are kept secure."
It is expected to take days to clean the house but there are plans to place it back on the market. The co-owner added the house would now be properly secured.
6:23am Friday 28th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Squatters R Scum on 12:29pm Fri 28 Mar 08
http://www.thisisoxf
ordshire.co.uk/searc
h/display.var.210920
1.0.squatters_reoccu
py_1m_house.php
[quote]"I feel sympathy for (the owner). It's his house but we will look after it.
Matt B added: "We are probably seen by people as scum but we have nowhere to live. People mention a squat and think of a dirty place with drugs but it is not.
"Apart from the doors, which the police broke, it's a clean place. I think we have been good neighbours."
The housemates said they did all the washing up and chores and kept it clean.[/quote]
Nice of them to further tarnish the image of homeless people with their lies and hypocrisy, isn't it?
http://www.thisisoxf
ordshire.co.uk/searc
h/display.var.210920
1.0.squatters_reoccu
py_1m_house.php
"I feel sympathy for (the owner). It's his house but we will look after it.
Matt B added: "We are probably seen by people as scum but we have nowhere to live. People mention a squat and think of a dirty place with drugs but it is not.
"Apart from the doors, which the police broke, it's a clean place. I think we have been good neighbours."
The housemates said they did all the washing up and chores and kept it clean.
Nice of them to further tarnish the image of homeless people with their lies and hypocrisy, isn't it?
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