The legal process of eviction can take a month or so, giving the squatter time to find somewhere else to live. This is what happens when the property is owned by the council or a housing association. However, many squatters are familiar with the experience of having the land lord turn up accompanied by thugs.

In order to legally occupy a premises you need to have exclusive access to that property, i.e., change the locks and keep the place secure like you would in a normal home. This is covered in a legal document known as Section 6, a copy of which is often displayed on the front door.

Some properties are still occupied by squatters who have resisted eviction for 20 years. Squatters have a right to claim ownership of a dwelling after 12 years of having lived there if no one else claims it. St. Agnes Place in London had been squatted in for 30 years until 29th November 2005, when Lambeth Council evicted the entire street.

To show that the occupier of the squatted building is in fact in physical possession of the property, squatters often put up a section 6 notice or even multiple copies on different sides of the building. Doing so shows that there are people living there and they have a legal right to be there. This also makes clear that anyone - even the technical owner of the property - who tries to enter the building without permission is committing an offence.