In a story that sparked heated arguments over property laws in the UK, builder Keith Best, who squatted in a three-bedroom semi-detached house in Newbury Park, East London, has sold the property for £540,000, nearly £140,000 more than its estimated value when he moved in.
The drama began in 1997 when Best, then working in the area, noticed the house was sitting vacant, reported the Daily Mail and other UK news agencies. It previously belonged to Doris Curtis, who died in the late 1980s.
Her son, Colin Curtis, lived there until 1996 when he moved into sheltered accommodation, leaving the property empty. Best began renovations, effectively treating the house as his own until he formally moved in with his family in 2012.
The ensuing court battle centred around Best's claim to the property via "adverse possession," an ancient principle allowing someone to claim legal ownership of a property if they have occupied it for a significant period without opposition from the original owner.
Best applied for adverse possession in 2012, but his claim was rejected due to the criminalization of residential squatting by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.
However, in a landmark decision by the High Court in 2014, Best was granted ownership.
The judge ruled that since Best had occupied the property before the law changed, the previous legislation, which treated squatting as a civil matter, should apply. The ruling allowed Best to become the legal owner of the house, despite acknowledging his earlier act of criminal trespass.
Colin Curtis, who had hoped to regain control of his late mother's home, fought back but faced setbacks due to not being formally recognized as his mother's estate administrator.
Curtis passed away in 2018, leaving behind a legacy of legal disputes over the property he once called home.
Best sold the house to Atiq Hayat in 2020, who was unaware of the property's controversial history until informed by journalists.
The sale price of £540,000 led to public outcry, with some calling the situation "theft," although legally, Best was within his rights.
Best insists he didn't profit from the ordeal, claiming he spent £400,000 on legal fees and £150,000 on renovations, alongside paying £245,000 in compensation to Curtis's granddaughter. He argues the law allowed him to claim the house, and he has followed the legal process to the letter.
The case has reignited discussions about the UK's adverse possession laws, highlighting how they can lead to unexpected outcomes where squatters gain legal title to properties.
Best's story has sparked debates on property rights, legal loopholes, and the ethical implications of such laws in modern society.