Stupid law and stupid people will do anything to win an election. They all lie.

Charles Dalrymple-ChumleyThe last time I was in the east end of London it was full of middle class hipster types. Most of the old east Enders have been priced out to Essex and Kent.

Richard PearsonAndrew Ede wrote a piece a few months ago about how it was the last PP government that introduced some ridiculous squatting law that has put us in the situation we are now.

Morgan WilliamsTrue. But mainly in Democrat (left/liberal) run cities and states. Which proves my point about voting with your head and not your feelings.

There aren't any squatters in the East End of London. Zero. How come? Because if you're stupid enough to break-in and squat within a few hours you'll find a trio of burly heavyweights arriving and "wanting a word." Then they'll walk you and yours out onto the street and your possessions will follow. No courts, no solicitors, no police, no months/years of waiting. Just East End justice. Job done. I'm not an advocate for people taking the law into their own hands but the East End way is a lot quicker and cheaper than going through the due legal process. Squatters have no rights save those granted to them by the authorities, as in Spain. But once they're back on the streets their "rights" are gone and they're just another pedestrian, with bags. I once had a property occupied by a tenant who refused to pay rent and tried to take possession. I went down the legal route and it took nine months. On the day of eviction the tenant was ready and willing to move out. She smiled at me as she left. She'd played the system, knew her "rights" and lived rent free for nine months. She calculated that I wasn't an EastEnder and so she was safe from physical eviction. It's a game she'll play with the next landlord and the next after that. Living rent free and supported by the law. Dystopia is on the horizon.

Yes, something needs the be done about squatting. But this isn't the only place where it's a problem. Even in the US it's rather rampant. Personally, I can't imagine how these squatting protection laws ever came into existence. It's insane.

Marvin Le MartianLess than 1 in 50 are genuine. They just want free accommodation

"Estate agencies provide potential squatters with information." Is this statement true? If so, those agencies must have their licenses withdrawn and closed down. That is an unacceptable abuse of their trusted position.

Lisa JuliaIt’s not the government which needs to show some common sense. It’s the voters. They keep voting for parties who refuse to do anything about it. One of the main culprits has a very good chance of being elected as a MEP next week. So I am afraid I have no sympathy at all for people who complain but aren’t prepared to do anything about it.

The Spanish need to take a long, hard look at their governance and laws. There’s no point blaming tourism about accommodation when there are better rights for squatters than landlords, or that the autonomo tax stifles creativity and entrepreneurialship. Their enforcement of their laws is skewed by, well I don’t know what is the best descriptor, Incompetence? Under-resourcing and mismanagement? . I don’t know enough about the crazy politics here but a lot is clear to see. No politician here seems able to nail it though, maybe because it’ll acknowledge their failing. But. Grow up. Come on. It could be so much better.