Although it is correct that the legal definition of squatter is someone who unlawfully inhabits vacant premises or land, in common parlance the word squatter is used to denote someone who inhabits vacant premises or land, whether lawfully or unlawfully, and, as such. Is not a derogatory term.In practice.
people generally do not wait until after a Court Order before using the term “squatter”.
When I said the Extinction Rebellion should be treated as squatters, what I meant was they should not be treated differently from others who may have occupied vacant premises, just because they are members of Extinction Rebellion.
As regards the suggestion that the homeless of SE23 should be offered shelter in our homes, the fact is that the homeless of SE23 are not occupying the Co-Op building- unless of course any of them are members of this Extinction Rebellion group.
If consent has been obtained from the appropriate party for them to occupy the building, there can be no argument that they are entitled to be there. However, I would have thought consent should have been obtained from the Landlord/owner of the property unless, of course, it was given in conjunction with the Council, if permission was given by the Council. This is by way of being a question as I have no knowledge of how this should work in practice.
