When squatters strike 

WHEN SQUATTERS have been occupying premises, a mess can often be left behind once they move on. Dirty dishes strewn all over the kitchen floor, hazardous chemicals, human waste - this is just one scene regularly confronted by SafeSite Security Solutions, an expert cleaning unit whose job is to race to the premises and make things right.

Not all squatters are dirty in their living standards; many clean living squatters have found themselves down on their luck and are looking for somewhere safe to live temporarily. But, there are less considerate squatters who pay no regard for the cleanliness of premises, not to mention the fact they shouldn't be there in the first place. 

Commercial properties are the main target

It is illegal for anyone to squat in domestic houses, so commercial properties are usually targeted - you're unlikely to come home and find someone trying to legally claim that they live in your house. People who run businesses, however, count on me and my team for an effective resolution when they are confronted with squatters. We receive calls from all kinds of people - shocked commercial landlords, estate agents, solicitors, the local council, or the police.

Naturally, the amount of mess left behind once squatters move on depends on how long they have been living there, and how the premises has been used during that time. Our team handles needles, blood, and all kinds of other nasty surprises, including unwanted guests such as rodents, flies and pigeons. 

I work at the core of the customer service team and oversee the operations department. It can take our team of professional cleaners weeks to clear a whole property, or some smaller jobs take only a matter of hours. Whatever the state of the premises, we ensure the end result is right. 

Stick with the professionals

It’s not always just a case of the cleaning standard being rigorous enough. Premises that have been vacant for a prolonged period of time can also fall into disrepair or be ransacked by vandals, resulting in more severe structural issues or water, fire and power hazards. 

I've also seen all kinds of hazardous objects abandoned in empty buildings, such as machinery. These hazards present particular dangers and must be treated with the utmost diligence by a professional team.

As a specialist company in emergency cleaning, SafeSite Security Solutions has the knowledge and skill to deal with these hazards, clearing and clearing vacant buildings to consistently superior quality in compliance with health and safety rules. 

We also work with qualified hazardous waste firms to deal with particularly dangerous chemicals. One of the issues with hiring simply anyone, I believe, is that they might not know what they're dealing with, or be trained to recognise hazardous chemicals or understand how to dispose of them correctly. 

We're leaders in the specialist cleaning sector because we do the job properly. We've found the key to cleaning success is giving the client what they want: a clean and secure environment that's been hygienically treated.

Beyond clearance 

When squatters are moved on, there is a chance that the same people will come back and try to occupy the premises again. So, once the mess and debris has been cleared, we don't stop there. I offer clients security services to make sure the problem doesn't happen again, such as CCTV, fencing, and a range of other solutions. 

We employ trained security professionals who can protect a property until the threat has gone. The Security Industry Authority accredits all our security members, who come with a wealth of professional experience dealing with the public. 

It's often a challenging job, not knowing what our team will be confronted with and always making sure that they are properly trained and have the correct equipment to carry out this kind of work safely. But, it is also gratifying, especially when a customer phones me to thank us for having returned their property back to a usable space. Squatters can cause real issues for property owners and I really do find it rewarding to hear that my team has alleviated that stress.  

Gabriella Pemberton is general manager at SafeSite Security Solutions.

For more information visit https://www.safesitesecuritysolutions.co.uk/products/problems-we-solve/squatter-eviction-clean-up