Legal ruling could double squatting, says minister

He said the decision to make Camden council publish a list of empty homes in the borough could lead to the doubling of squatting.

The ruling, made on 2 September by Judge Fiona Henderson, ordered the council to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request made by a member of the Advisory Service for Squatters

Yiannis Voyias had asked the council for a list of empty homes owned by ‘non individuals’ such as companies or the council. He won his appeal after Camden Council and the Information Commissioner said the council did not have to supply the information.

Following the ruling, council must publish the list by 29 September.

The judge ruled that it was in the public interest to release the information, adding that there was a strong public interest in bringing empty property into use, that squatting not was itself a crime and there was not a direct link between squatting and crime.

In response Mr Shapps said: ‘This is a bizarre decision that flies in the face of common sense. Rather than trying to prevent the anti-social and unfair practice of squatting, this judge is instead insisting that Camden Council publish a “squatter’s road map” - which in other areas has led to the numbers of squats doubling.’ He added the government is consulting on making squatting a criminal offence and that councils are rewarded with money from the New Homes Bonus for bringing empty homes into use.