I recently stayed at a mate's flat in London, for a few days before my graduation from uni.' The flat was in the east end of London, literally a stone's throw from the new olympic site in Hackney. During my few days there I came across an assortment of students, hippies, recreational druggies, poets, deejays,  people 'inbetween jobs' those who'd not worked for years and professional types. It was real mixed-bag of bohemian types who seemed to treat my mate's flat like a community centre/hostel/therapy group/internet cafe.

One thing many of these assorted characters had in common was that they all either currently or recently sqautted in London. I have to admit that several years ago, I found myself squatting when I stayed with at my girlfriend -at the time' s- flat which happened to be a squat. Other than the fact there was a section six notice on the door, you would have had no idea as the flat was nicely decorated had hot water, gas and electric- all on meters, and was generally as homely as any place I've ever visited. Not what I expected when I heard the word 'squat', I envisioned some Trainspotting type, hovel, with syringes scattered everywhere, the carpets having been long ripped up, and wallpaper a distant memory- what can I say, I was young and naive. The squat lasted a lot longer than me and my girlfriends relationship and when we split up I was duly 'evicted' by her.

Getting back to the bohemians at my mates flat in Hackney, listening to their conversations it became evident that squatting was not only a practically victimless crime but that it also was a good way of putting to use so many of the derelict buildings in London. Of course not everyone would agree, after all if you're about to move into a property but can't because its been taken over by squatters then thats different, but by-and large most empty buildings in London remain empty for months, even years and are often owned by people or companies who have no need for them.

According to emptyhomes.com 2009 Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix there were a staggering 651, 993 empty properties in 2009, over 75,000 of which were in London.

According to the findings of broadwaylondon.org who deal with helping homeless people in London find accomodation, 3673 people were sleeping rough in the capital in 2009/10 not to mention the thousands of other people who may be staying with friends etc, but are actually homeless.

Now it doesn't take Professor Stephen Hawkins to work out that the amount of empty buildings in London, and the number of people without a home do simply not add up. Squatting is for many a reasonable alternative to waiting on housing lists, or living in hostels which may be dangerous or have a number of residents on hard drugs.

While there are no doubt many places that have a much worse homeless problem than London- or Britain for that matter, the fact there are so many empty buildings in the UK, means that one can hardly blame people from taking matters into their own hands. People in other developing countries often don't have the choice.  

Thanks to the joys of the internet those amongst you thinking of squatting can get anything from legal advice to the latest abandoned buildings on any number of sites.

If any one does find themselves squatting in London, I for one say good luck to you and if you've got a spare room give me a shout- although remember I like my breakfast served at 9am.