Squatter wins right to stay in house he lived in for more than two years

A squatter has won a landmark victory for “squatter’s rights” after seeking possession of a run-down property he has lived in and renovated – despite residential squatting being “criminalised” by the Government.

Keith Best applied to register title to 35 Church Road, Newbury Park, Ilford, east London, on the basis that he had been “in adverse possession”, also referred to as “squatter’s title”, for a period of 10 years ending on the date he made his application.