Gordon Ramsay is facing a legal battle after his £13m London pub was taken over by a gang of squatters.
The York & Albany pub, for which Mr Ramsay owns the leasehold, had temporarily closed as the chef finalised a deal for new owners to take over.
But a group of squatters broke in, putting glue in the locks and using heavy kitchen equipment to barricade themselves inside.
Six “professional” squatters have taken residence in the property and are sleeping on the sofas inside, photos published in The Sun show. A notice has been pinned to the door, warning those looking to evict them that the squatters will take legal action.
Mr Ramsay is understood to have reported the matter to police on Wednesday.
But what can owners do when squatters take over their property? And how much can it cost to get rid of them? Here, The Telegraph looks at the key issues.
What are your rights?
It has been illegal to squat in residential properties since 2012. If squatters are charged and found guilty they can be sentenced to six months in prison, and be given a £5,000 fine.
But commercial properties do not have the same protection. However, criminal damage to the property is still a crime, and squatters can be told to leave by a court. Using utilities, including water and electricity, without permission is illegal, as is fly-tipping on the land or in the property.
Landlords or owners can be asked to give squatters reasonable notice to leave, and if they evict them illegally can face legal action. If the squatters have established the property as their home, and lived there a long time, they may have the right to challenge an eviction in court, under the Human Rights Act 1998.
A long-term squatter can become the registered owner of land they occupied without the owner’s permission if they can prove that the property has been squatted on for at least 10 years, or 12 if it is not listed with HM Land Registry. This is known as an adverse possession claim.
Owners have 65 days to object – and if they do, the squatters will typically be refused. If it was originally let to someone who claims to be a squatter, then the claim will be refused.