Squatter Awarded Damages After Venue Owner Demolished Building With Him Inside
A London court found a property owner guilty of harassment for demolishing a building while a squatter remained inside, awarding the squatter thousands in damages.
A squatter who was residing in a flat within the historic London music venue, The Cricketers, has been awarded thousands of pounds in damages after the property owner was found guilty of harassment. The owner, Ravinder Laly, began demolishing the building while the squatter, Nicola Saia, was asleep inside.
Saia had been living in the flat at The Cricketers in Kennington, a venue that once hosted acts like The Pogues and Happy Mondays before its conversion into residences. He claimed he needed to remain in the property until July 29, 2023, as the council had declared him homeless and he was awaiting temporary accommodation. Saia alleged that Laly repeatedly threatened to remove the roof if he did not vacate.
On July 18, 2023, Saia was reportedly woken by loud noises and discovered debris falling through his living room ceiling. He subsequently sued Laly and his company, RSL Slough Ltd, for harassment and unlawful eviction, seeking up to £60,000 for alleged shock, stress, anxiety, and inconvenience.
Laly denied the accusations, disputing Saia's legal status as a tenant at the time. However, the trial judge, Recorder Tom Shepherd, ruled that Laly had harassed Saia by following through on threats to remove the roof and by briefly cutting off the property's water supply. The judge dismissed claims related to the WiFi being disconnected and the property being boarded up, stating that Saia was not a legal tenant and therefore not protected by the relevant eviction laws.
Despite acknowledging that Saia was technically trespassing, the judge described Laly's actions as "calculated" and "oppressive." He stated that Laly could have pursued legal avenues, such as obtaining a possession order or using bailiffs, rather than resorting to demolishing parts of the building while Saia was present. The judge concluded that the "imminence of the threats to demolish" crossed a line.
Saia's legal representative presented evidence that Laly had messaged Saia stating the roof would be removed and demolition would commence. Builders instructed by Laly reportedly began removing the roof, creating a hole in Saia's living room and bedroom ceilings, while Saia was still inside.
Laly attempted to countersue Saia for trespassing and damages. The judge found Saia to be a "technical trespasser" but rejected Laly's claims for alleged damage caused by Saia, awarding nominal compensation of £1. Saia was awarded £2,000 in damages for harassment. The Cricketers venue was fully demolished in 2024.