Squatters occupy abandoned spaces without permission, with their legal status being controversial. Some countries protect squatters by law, and some argue that squatting should be legalized to use unoccupied spaces. Owners argue that squatting brings legal problems, decreases property values, and increases crime. Squatting reflects socioeconomic disparities and is sometimes used as a form of protest.
Squatters are people who occupy abandoned or disused spaces that do not belong to them. By definition, squatters occupy space without permission, and their legal status around the world is often controversial. The environments these people occupy vary, from abandoned warehouses in commercial districts to huge slums on the fringes of major cities in the developing world.
The practice of the squat is ancient. As people have claimed specific plots of land and buildings, homeless people have occupied those spaces, both legally and illegally. From the squatters’ point of view, they use the space as efficiently as possible and get low-cost housing. From the owner’s point of view, these people can be seen as a threat or threat, especially if they contribute to the deterioration of a property.
In some countries, squatters are protected by law. In fact, if people can hold a piece of land or a house for a specific amount of time, they may be able to pursue the land deed in court, claiming they are the de facto owners of the space. This is especially true in cases where people make improvements or contribute to the maintenance of the property, as their efforts indicate a true commitment to the space.
Many squatters argue that squatting should be legalized because unoccupied spaces should be used, rather than allowed to rot. Some residents have radical political values and may use squatted spaces to organize other radicals, hold community events, or even run businesses with radical leanings. Some squats are run as collectives, successfully occupied by several people over decades. By reclaiming space, especially in urban areas, some believe they are benefiting the people around them, as squatters often make substantial improvements to the spaces they occupy.
The owners argue that the squat is accompanied by a number of legal problems. For example, when occupants occupy a condemned or dangerous building, the owner is held liable for any injuries, even if people are there without consent. This group is also perceived as negative when evaluating neighborhood property values, and some people believe their presence increases crime, threatens property rights, and poses a risk to themselves and others. Property damage is another risk, especially when occupants attempt to heat the space through alternative means or use leaky plumbing.
Squatting often reflects huge socioeconomic disparities, as in the case of slums built right on the edge of affluent neighborhoods. In regions of the world where land use and tenants’ rights have been hotly contested, squat is sometimes used as a form of protest. Landless farmers, for example, can take over and cultivate unused land, arguing that the government should give them the land rather than leave it fallow.
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