Squatters who managed to live for free in a £1m London home for over 31 years

By On Nov 13, 2022

Many of us dream of living in a £1 million house in a prized part of Central London. Many of us play the lottery every week with just that type in mind. Well maybe if we dream hard enough, one day we will get there.

On April 6, 2004, the Irish Independent reported the incredible story of three squatters who had been living rent-free in a Grade II-listed five-bedroom house in Clerkenwell for 31 years. The trio, who first moved into the property in 1973, applied to a county court to become the registered owners of the house. Camden Council, which owns the house, said it had made repeated attempts to evict the three, but admitted a decision not to oppose them.

In fact the council made unsuccessful attempts to repossess the property in 1990 and 1983. But the clever squatters, Agoshaman Ceribel, who was 71 at the time, Umiak Mahoupe, who was 50 at the time, and a friend called Anne – known as the “Calthorpe Street”. Through” – they were able to claim the freehold of the house because it was not registered under the Land Registration Act.

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But no one has confirmed who these clever squatters were – although their names were clearly printed in the press at the time – until now. Putting the pieces together, it turned out that Agosaman Ceribel and Umiak Mahoupe were survivors of one of the most revolutionary hippie art movements in London in the 1960s who were mainly responsible for creating the idea of ”Swinging London”.

The caption of a YouTube video for their project World Tree Theater reveals the group met in London in 1967, at the time of what was known as the “Exploding Galaxy”. This was a psychedelic group of young radical theater performers formed at the height of the hippie movement trying to change London through spontaneous events. Based in a house at 99 Balls Pond Road, it was a dance/performance company that performed at many of London’s leading psychedelic clubs and venues including UFO, Middle Earth and the Arts Lab.

The events held by these groups were very prominent. Often experimenting with psychedelic drugs, they believed that art could be part of everyday life and could be practiced in any medium. They hoped to change people’s perception of how rigid society was and some of their thinking was truly revolutionary.

The group seems to have joined “Transmedia Exploration” later, and much later some of its members went abroad to work in France under the name “L’Arbre du Monde” or World Tree Theatre.

Amazingly, the video shows how the group has gotten better over the years, now playing chilled out country music and telling stories. It is a far cry from the existential experiment of their youth.

When the video was posted about four years ago, it was clear that Umiak Mahoupe was still looking for her little piece of heaven, however, as she says the group borrowed a manor house for the summer near Cognac, with pigs , dairy her workshop and lis gatha. Then the group plays a lovely country song called Paint the Flame which she said is about painting the group’s orange lorry that they drive around in. There is fiddle, Irish whistle, guitar and banjo and Agosaman sings.

It’s sweet, folky and sentimental and definitely not revolutionary. The group has even set up a charitable trust called the World Tree Arts Trust. Their mission states: “We promote works of art and performance including the “World Tree Theater Troupe.” Our touring education program includes arts and environmental education in English. a growing community.”

The members of the group have made videos, music and pictures, at least some of them from Ireland, on their website here. The address on their charitable foundation’s website is listed as 49 Calthorpe Street, exactly the house they were ‘given’ after Camden Council made its almost unbelievable error.

We have requested an interview with this band of 60’s survivors but they have not responded. If you’re out there World Tree Theatre, we’d love to hear your story as you’re clearly living through one of London’s most exciting periods of history that helped reshape society. It’s certainly rare to see that kind of creativity unfold all these years even in the modern age of the internet.

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Can I call the police if my landlord locked me out UK?

You can mention it if you talk to them again. You can call 999 for emergency help if your landlord is at your home and is threatening or forcing you to leave. It can help to have someone for support. Plan who to call if your landlord turns up.

Can I call the police if my landlord enters the UK without permission? An unannounced visit or entry without my permission violates my right to quiet enjoyment of my home. It could also count as harassment under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. This is a criminal offence. I will consider reporting you to the council for enforcement action if your behavior continues.

Can I sue my landlord for stress UK?

If you have suffered psychological injury, such as stress or anxiety because of this, you may be entitled to sue them for emotional distress in the UK. You can gather evidence of their actions against you, and medical evidence of how it affected you, to help you make a claim against them.

How do I take my landlord to court UK?

You will need to print and complete form N208 on GOV.UK to take your landlord to court. Write on your form that you are making a claim ‘under S213-214 of the Housing Act 2004 (non-compliance with the Tenancy Deposit Scheme)’. You should also explain your case and tell the court why you are making the claim.

What is considered uninhabitable living situations for a tenant UK?

A rental house is unfit to live in when conditions or safety issues are so bad that it is not reasonable for you to live there. This could happen because the poor conditions have a serious impact on your health. put you at risk of bodily harm or injury.

What are tenants rights in UK?

As a tenant, you have the right: to live in a property that is safe and in good condition. return your deposit when the tenancy ends – and in some cases protect your deposit. challenge fees that are too high.

Do long term tenants have rights?

the right to register a ‘fair rent’, which is often much lower than the market rent; better long-term tenure security, and therefore more difficult to evict, and. the right to pass on the tenancy to their spouse and, in some cases, family members when they die.

What are the new tenancy laws UK?

The Tenant Reform Bill will end the use of rent review clauses and will only allow rents to be increased once a year. Landlords must give 2 months notice of any change of rent. The changes are hoped to “prevent tenants from being locked into automatic rent increases that are vague or may not reflect changes in the market price”.

Can landlord change locks without permission UK?

In most cases, it would be illegal for a landlord to change the locks without the tenant’s permission, reasonable notice, or good reason. Landlords are also not allowed to change the locks in cases of illegal eviction.

Can a landlord change the locks for nonpayment of rent UK?

It is illegal for landlords to change the locks and evict tenants from rental accommodation without a court order usually enforced by bailiffs.

Do landlords have to change locks between tenants UK?

Changing the locks between tenants may seem like a common thing, or it may even be something your landlord has to do. But that’s not really the case – landlords are under no legal obligation to change locks between tenants. They do, however, have a responsibility to provide an adequate level of security.

Do squatters rights still exist UK?

Squatting in residential buildings (such as a house or apartment) is illegal. It could lead to six months in prison, a £5,000 fine or both. Anyone who first enters a property with the landlord’s permission is not a squatter.

Can police remove UK squatters? You can remove squatters by using an interim possession order ( IPO ) or by claiming possession. Do not try to remove the squatters yourself using force or the threat of force – you are committing a crime if you do. Get legal advice from a solicitor if you need help with a possession claim.

Can you claim squatters rights in the UK?

You can apply if you can prove: that you, or a succession of squatters, have been in continuous possession of the property for 10 years (12 years if it is not registered with HM Land Registry) you (or your predecessors ) as the owners of the property for all that time.

How long does it take to evict a squatter UK?

Evicting squatters from commercial properties There will usually be a police presence to ensure that the peace is not breached. In this case, eviction can happen within 24 to 48 hours without the need for a court order.

How do I claim squatters rights on my property?

To claim adverse possession of land, the claimant must prove three things:

That they had actual possession of the land; and.
Possession is uninterrupted for the required period; and.
They intended to hold the land during that period.

When was squatting made illegal in the UK?

Under Section 144 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, squatting in residential property became a criminal offense on 1 September 2012.

How long can you squat in a house UK?

According to Shelter, this process “requires squatters to vacate the premises within 24 hours of service”. If the squatters have not left the premises 24 hours after being served with an IPO, this will be seen as a criminal offense and the police may charge them or send them to prison.

Is it illegal to squat in the UK?

Squatting is when a person deliberately enters a property without permission and lives there, or intends to live there. This is sometimes called ‘opposite possession’. Squatting in residential buildings (such as a house or apartment) is illegal. It could lead to six months in prison, a £5,000 fine or both.