From 1 September 2012 landlords were given powers to deal with squatters under Section 144 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. This made squatting in residential premises a criminal act with a penalty of up to 6 months in prison and/or a fine up to £5k.

Civil remedies are still open to landlords however the housing management group agreed that this new procedure should be followed in the first instance for all new acts of squatting.