/r/squatting

Photograph via snooOG

r/squatting is a space for the squatters of the world. We advocate for squatter’s rights and believe everyone has a right to a roof over their head. Whether it's occupying land or vacant property for personal, communal or political reasons, this is the place to talk about it.

Squatting is the act of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied space or building that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have permission to use.

/r/squatting

7,692 Subscribers

0

What would y'all think about changing this sub's discovery settings?

So we've been getting brigaded pretty hard. I can change the sub's discovery settings so that posts won't show up on non members' feeds. This would mean that redditers would have to search for "squatting" to find us. What are y'all's opinions?

73 Comments
2024/03/27
19:31 UTC

21

Why are there so many trolls?

It seems like every post I make, the majority of the comments are people bashing squatters. Calling us lazy, jobless, pathetic, and all sorts of other insults.

I think a new rule should be added: no trolling.

I've seen other controversial subreddits instate this rule with good results. I feel like it could really help here.

107 Comments
2024/03/25
18:12 UTC

0

Can I squat in a business?

For example if you are in California or New York or a squatter favoring state.

Is it possible to squat in a business?

A restaurant for example. If you are willing to create a fake lease to show the police saying the restaurant allowed you to sleep in the back office. I don't see how the eviction process would be any different where you could tie it up in court and not only get a place to stay but get all the food you want.

15 Comments
2024/03/22
16:24 UTC

0

Looking for squatters in Nassau County, Long Island; info on house sitting empty

If you are ready to move into a million dollar house in Port Washington, let me know.

28 Comments
2024/03/23
04:43 UTC

0

London squatters?

Hi,

I'm revisiting the idea of squatting in London. Nearly happened a few years back but I wasn't in the right place. I'd like to find myself in a place with politically-active squatters who are also sick of the rising rental prices and greedy landlords.

Does anyone know what the deal is these days in London? Is Anarchist book shop still hosting meetings? Are there any groups trying to tackle the rental issue head on with actions such as squatting? If so, how can I get involved?

Thank you!

11 Comments
2024/03/22
20:41 UTC

23

IMO, squatting in investment homes is okay under certain guidelines but squatting in someone's primary residence is *never okay. Thoughts?

So, I just found out about this sub from another reddit post. Where a family left for a week and when they returned squatters have moved in. The squatter had fake leases, had wrecked the house, and forced the family to get a hotel while they go through the eviction process since the police wouldn't get involved.

First off I would like to say I see there to be two types of home owners investors (business or individuals that own more than 3 or more homes) who it’s okay to squat in, and Individuals who that home is their primary residence or a part time one (think hunting cabin or sub 200k second home.

From my point of view, I don't see any issue with squatting in the Investors buildings under these conditions: If you leave it in the same condition or better than when you arrived. You didn't have to break any windows or doors (besides the lock and that's within reason). You are moving in won't put someone else out on the street. If the owners show up and ask you to leave you do within a reasonable time frame (5-10 days) and you don't leave the place a wreck. You don't take anything with you that you didn't bring. You do this because you must and are not a serial squatter who abuses squatter’s rights. Finally, don't smoke anything inside the home.

*Finally there is a final caveat that supersedes everything, it is okay to squat anywhere if you are doing it because its below freezing outside, there is a natural disaster happening or there is something making it deadly to be on the streets such as a civil war, active warzone or a riot.

I was just wondering what people’s thoughts are. Also I don't own any homes and I currently rent.

75 Comments
2024/03/19
20:50 UTC

12

Squats in London

Hey I am currently doing a documentary photography project on alternative housing and squats, I feel like squats are important during this time of housing insecurity.

I am currently struggling with my housing situation and want to explore alternative housing against my own housing journey. I hope to throw myself in and take pictures of people in their daily lives, and hopefully take portraits of people who are happy to take part. I want to make people feel as comfortable as possible and only photograph people who are comfortable and I am happy to blur peoples faces for privacy.

I am hoping to make coats and hats out of the photos taken to demonstrate how communities are woven together. I am happy to give anything I make to the anyone who took part. Please let me know what you think and if you are interested or know anyone who would be happy to take part.

9 Comments
2024/03/11
11:38 UTC

21

My ceiling leaks water when it rains and the squatters don’t let the people who are trying to fix it into “their” flat (UK)

I live below squatters, and my ceiling leaks water whenever it rains, this has been happening ever since I moved in (6 months) I’ve brought it up to the estate agents and the landlords many times, there was a flood in my building during that time and other parts of my flat were also damaged.

While I was away for around a month the renovators painted over the original water damage marks. during the time I was gone I thought they were also able to fix where the leak was coming from, but unfortunately not. The squatters don’t let in the people who are trying to fix the leak and it’s effecting me and how I live, the one time the men (who are supposed to be fixing the leak) got into the squatters flat, they saw class A drugs and other things laying around the flat and took a video ( I’ve seen the video).

I want to at least talk to these people living above me but I’m scared something will happen, would writing a note be better?

5 Comments
2024/03/05
14:45 UTC

55

Sometimes I miss being a squatter

I don’t miss the drugs (never really hooked, but still I was losing myself. And you don’t need a squat to enjoy shrooms or E anyways)

I don’t miss waking up whenever.

And surely I don’t miss being seen as an oogle (police broke into my home looking for my father’s guns, tore down walls, I had a breakdown and split up. If I had stayed that home I would have set myself on fire)

Nor the “older ones” doing whatever with the younger girls (another reason why I left).

I miss the sense of freedom and my friends. It was fun. Even when it wasn’t. I can still sense the smell of mold, plaster falling, anti-bug spray.

People from 3 or 4 continents fucked into the same squat all together. Techno nights each Friday. Some guy trying to tame the hugest fucking rat I have ever seen.

Tbt, I don’t get how in my squat Chocking Victim wasn’t more popular, but I didn’t mind MDC and Disrupt blasted on repeat…

It was a formative experience. I am far from being a resolved adult, but I am working on it. And I feel like I owe a lot to squatting culture and punk in general (even if I was labeled both as an oogle and a metalhead).

Say what you want, the squat was there for me even when she left.

Oh boy, today is one of the days where I miss being with my fellows “bad batches”.

Enjoy the Sunday yall

19 Comments
2024/03/03
14:47 UTC

21

Florida Squatting

I have had more then 1 person recommended we try squatting but I have no idea where to begin. I don't want to get arrested or hurt a family by squatting on a property they need to use to live in or make a living with. Something has to give because I'm so sick of having to move all the time just to stay of the streets. We have been homeless since last Oct because of a narcissist. I spent my whole life paying taxes, working, paying rent and following the law so me and my family deserve better. How would I find a home in Volusia County, FL and what rights do I have in this state? Thanks

29 Comments
2024/03/02
03:06 UTC

9

I've been squatting for 2 years at a house in Detroit. The blight people have come to clean it up. They aren't kicking us out, but how do I keep it so I'm not eventually kicked out before I'm ready to move? Or make it so I can stay?

32 Comments
2024/02/29
15:16 UTC

11

Project: Multicultural squat in the Andes region of Patagonia, Argentina -LF INTERESTED PPL-

Hello fellow squatters,

I have been living in the Andes region of Patagonia, Argentina (around Bariloche, El Bolson, etc).

I noticed that:

  • squatting (forest) land is very common here.
  • there is plenty of local natural building materials available such as stones, wood, clay.
  • There are clean freshwater sources like rivers, lakes, and plenty of wild fruits, vegetables and animals (deer, trout, boars etc)

Since I have had experience in squatting (London and Catalunya), including some experience in connecting power from public grid, living in communities, being part of anarchist movement; I am putting together this draft idea hoping like-minded people will want to join.

Goals in a nutshell:

  1. Create a multicultural (international) commune in an occupied forest area, close to water source and hopefully not far from power grid. Being off-grid is an option too.
  2. Build small houses + shared structures with local materials (Here it's a very common practice to do so).
  3. Build a sense of community around a range of values that could include: Anarchism, left-wing, feminism, anti-fascism, animal rights, eco-consciousness, activism, art, punk, music, partying, solarpunk, and more, of course with flexibility.
  4. Aim for the squat to have a positive impact on the neighborhood and local communities.

For those who don't know the region: This is a typical landscape in Patagonia.

---Very briefly about me:

36M, know spanish english and italian, university diploma in natural sciences, have experience squatting, wrote zines on anarchism, I'm pro-nature, antifascist, I like artistic expression of any sort and organizing social events. Always up for adventures and thinking of ways to solve problems---

The CONS I can see about this:

  1. Winter is harsh here. Snow, rain, cold. We would need to device a very efficient heating system (good news is there's plenty of wood, bad news we would need to hide/filter smoke so as to not draw unecessary attention from forest guards).
  2. Though squatting land is common here, its very politicized, so it's not like anyone can just squat areas near a town: So, we would need to have a relatively hidden location, and/or work with local anarchists and sadly sometimes 'mafia' to get aid.
  3. During winter it would be hard, though not impossible to start building. Winter starts around April-May here so not much more sunshine time left.
  4. Problems concerning social interactions, establishing boundaries, common objectives, though that's a part of life in general.

--------

Anyone who might be interested, let me know! We can start a discussion here and then maybe move to a Telegram group.

Tips and comments appreciated!!!

Regards,

Ocelote

4 Comments
2024/02/17
17:33 UTC

15

Is this squatting?

I recently moved in a girl I worked with who needed a place to stay and help getting on her feet in terms of getting a license, housing and daycare for her daughter.

We started a brief romantic relationship which was a mistake. Literally the day I moved all her stuff and she moved in she quit even talking to me, yells and cusses at me and her daughter and only sits on the couch on her phone.

I wanted to help her but she seems to not want to do anything and is fine with moving from place to place burning bridges. I've asked her about her mental health and offered to take her to the doctor. She became defensive.

Any insight on this type of situation. I can't boot her out cuz I feel for the kid.

17 Comments
2024/02/08
13:34 UTC

4

Squatting ghent

Zijn er in Gent nog (kraak)panden waar punk/art-exhibitions/benefietacties zijn?

2 Comments
2024/02/05
08:34 UTC

3

Any response is helpful!

I am a university student and have been spending the last 4 months focusing my projects on squatting - aiming to educate myself on something that I previously must admit was very ignorant to.

I am aiming now to create a zine-like publication/handbook which aims to briefly advice on the tips and tricks within the squatting community. This could be anything from how to keep electricity working, how to make it look like you haven't crawled under a fence or how to deal with certain situations. Basically, anything you have learnt that was/is helpful.

Thank you for all of your help in advance.

10 Comments
2024/01/31
12:41 UTC

53

How can I get a human parasite out of my house?

How can I get a disgusting human parasite out of my house?

So I am a 60 year old widow, currently going thru chemo and I made the HORRIBLE mistake of allowing an old (ex) friend of my daughter to stay with me for a few days when her boyfriend kicked her out. Only, those few days have now turned into a month and I can’t get her to leave. She is an absolute disaster. No job, no car, no money, no manners. She’s eating my food, cranking up my heat, has not lifted one finger to help with housework, wants me to drive her places, smokes in the house and then lies about it, doesn’t clean up after herself…the list could go on forever. If I ask her to do something, or not do something, she stomps around, slams doors etc like a 14 year old child. Did I mention that this woman is 35 years old? THIRTY FIVE! She is a vile, filthy parasite.

Today I told her she had one week to find another place. She bawled, stating she had no other place, that she would be on the streets. I told her she needed to figure something out because I’m sick and I don’t need her around. My daughter lives out of state and has called and told her to leave (and not very nicely- she’s furious that this person is taking advantage like this), but the woman just doesn’t care. She obviously has no self respect nor respect for others. I do feel bad for her, or I did at least, at first. I do hate the thought of throwing anyone out on the streets, but my god, she’s making my life a living hell.

What am I to do if she refuses to leave after the week ultimatum?

(She said she has contacted catholic charities and other organizations that help with housing and was told there is no funding available)

42 Comments
2024/01/30
21:24 UTC

10

Squatting tips for Dog owners

Hi l‘m currently in Germany and would like to finde a place or a squad in Europe or UK.

Any tips for Dog owners, because I’m not sure how that would work.

2 Comments
2024/01/27
13:11 UTC

0 Comments
2024/01/24
12:06 UTC

6

Garage Geens

0 Comments
2024/01/16
16:22 UTC

2

YouTube shorts page with abandoned property searching

0 Comments
2024/01/16
14:18 UTC

40

Im squatting in the US. Its great! First time. Im with friends and pets.

I just wanted to share something encouraging. Its hard to squat but its worth it. Im so glad i have a network of friends who open houses and help eachother if anyone gets evicted. My place seems really secure and weve been living here for about 4 months.

The owners are a holding Llc and it seems like they are really just holding the property for investment reasons. They may have plans to rent it in the future but its in great condition, livable, didnt even have to paint. The water was on and the gas lock was broken when i arived but they shut the gas off after 2 months. I think the gas company was tracking the gas usage.

I want to encourage anyone who is interested to squat if they can and especially if they have a safety net if they get evicted. I wish it wasnt so risky for people but unfortunatly it really is so much more risky if you dont have a car and enough income to pay at least an electric bill and to rent a lawnmower sometimes. Its much easier to get into squatting if you are someone who lives on a month to month paycheck rather than being unemployed and homeless, but once you have a house open, you can offer empty rooms to friends who are homeless and unemployed.

Some of the advice that stands out in helping me make my goals reality is,

  1. when scouting look for overgrown. The house might look like shit, but if someones cutting the grass, its not possible to be openly living there.
  2. the first thing to work on is the yard. If you make the yard look nice, none of your other activity will look sus. the exterior is your camoflauge.
  3. Have a network with experienced people, open multiple squats. To find people you have to be trustworthy and have a greater calling than just personal gain.
  4. Reasearch those houses like a scientist, like its your life's work. Like youre about to write the thesus that finally brings down capitalism forever.

Well thats all i can think of for now. Goodnight

19 Comments
2024/01/15
08:45 UTC

0

Question for Squatters

Really interested in squatters. Just a few questions to the broader group, how many of you support squatting in family homes, and making families homeless? Is there any justification you can give to it? And do you know anyone prosecuted for it?

Thanks

38 Comments
2024/01/14
00:48 UTC

3

Irish Squatter

Hi. Are there any other Irish squatters here?

2 Comments
2024/01/08
10:36 UTC

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