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Squatters are often imagined as individuals residing in rundown shacks or concealed within the remnants of abandoned structures. However, there are rare moments when squatters experience a taste of luxury, even if only temporarily. Here are ten remarkable cases where squatters lived in opulence.
10. Boca Raton Mansion Occupation
In December 2013, a man named Andre “Loki Boy” Barbosa occupied a $2.5 million mansion. While this might seem like a dream come true, the property was actually foreclosed, and Barbosa had no legal ownership. He was a squatter who stayed in the mansion for nearly two months, attempting to claim it under Florida’s adverse possession law, commonly known as squatter’s rights.
Barbosa viewed his actions as the beginning of a movement to reclaim vacant properties. Although he was evicted in February 2014 and failed to secure ownership of the mansion, his story sparked widespread attention. Following his eviction, numerous adverse possession claims emerged, giving momentum to the movement he aimed to initiate.
9. Piccadilly Mansion Rebranded as “Hippydilly” Following Squatter Occupation
At the peak of hippy culture in London, when themes of free love, vagrancy, and a carefree lifestyle dominated, hundreds of long-haired, cannabis-smoking individuals found refuge at 144 Piccadilly Street. This vacant 100-room mansion became their dream home, offering a rare opportunity to live rent-free.
As part of a counterculture movement and anticipating eviction, these 1960s-style “free love” hippies formed the “London Street Commune” and took over the mansion for three weeks in September 1969. They constructed a makeshift drawbridge over a dry moat to access a ground-floor window after barricading the main doors. With hundreds of street dwellers and drug dealers residing there, the mansion quickly gained the nickname “Hippydilly.”
8. The Tale of an Australian Who Turned into a Squatter Landlord
Bill Gertos, a property developer, stumbled upon an abandoned house in Sydney, Australia, during one of his routine walks. Acting on instinct, Gertos did what many in his position might consider: he claimed the property for himself, effectively becoming a squatter landlord.
Gertos realized he couldn’t attract tenants to his newly acquired property if it remained in disrepair, so he replaced the locks and renovated the place. By the time the legal owners discovered the situation, it was too late—Gertos had already filed for ownership. The original owners, who had inherited the property from a deceased relative, were unaware of its existence. Meanwhile, Gertos had invested $150,000 into renovations and had been leasing it to tenants for two decades. Eventually, he secured ownership through squatters’ rights under the Real Property Act. Oh, and did I mention the property was valued at $1.6 million?
7. Ambitious Squatters Move Between London Mansions
Why settle for one mansion when you can explore multiple? This seems to have been the mindset of a group of London squatters who occupied a £15 million Belgravia mansion owned by a Russian oligarch. Although their stay lasted only a week, it was enough to give them a taste of luxury. After being evicted, the group, now accustomed to high living, refused to back down.
Just hours after being removed from the Eaton Square mansion, they relocated to a seven-story property in Grosvenor Gardens, merely five minutes away. They confidently told reporters that if evicted again, they would simply “find another place.” Now, that’s what I call unwavering determination.
6. A Squatter Secures a Free Victorian Flat in London but Faces Staircase Challenges
Jack Blackburn first occupied his home in 2001, when the building was in a state of disrepair and entirely owned by the Lambeth council.
For thirteen years, Blackburn lived there, making improvements and enduring a lengthy legal battle before finally securing ownership of the Victorian flat. However, due to a peculiarity in British law, Blackburn was barred from using the stairs to access his property for eight years. Despite this, the flat, valued at £175,000 ($225,000), was a significant win for Blackburn, especially since he never had to pay for it.
5. Squatters Take Over Chelsea Pubs
In 2012, squatters occupied The Black Bull, a members-only club that had been closed for three months, by entering through the women’s restroom window. While this isn’t the typical way to enter a club, it worked for the squatters. Initially, they planned a short stay, but after the leaseholder involved the police, they decided to stay and fight the eviction in court, embracing a bit of petty revenge.
The Black Bull wasn’t their first target; they had previously occupied The Charlie Butler. Other pubs, like Cross Keys, also fell victim to squatters. A recent British law had banned squatting in residential properties, but a loophole allowed it in commercial buildings, making pubs prime targets. The Black Bull’s leaseholder reported that the squatters had illegally restored electricity and helped themselves to the bar’s stock, turning their occupation into an ongoing party.
4. A Squatter Known as “Jesus” Occupied Boris Becker’s Mansion
In May 2018, a man named Georg Berres, who goes by the name “Jesus,” moved into Boris Becker’s mansion. Berres claimed he was unaware the property belonged to the tennis legend until German media informed him during an interview. Becker hadn’t been seen at the mansion for years, making it an easy target for the squatter.
3. Squatters Transform Mansion into Party Venue While Millionaire Owner is Away
In May of this year, a $6 million mansion in Sydney, Australia, became the site of an epic party after five men took over the property while the owner was away on business in Hong Kong. Reports described the house as filled with alcohol and drug-related items, scattered across bedrooms, bathrooms, and even by the pool. A single bong was found in one room, likely used for consuming “substances.”
The squatters enjoyed their stay for nearly three weeks—what they might call a “wild ride”—before being interrupted by plumbers arriving for maintenance work. The men initially claimed to know the owner but provided a false name when questioned. They fled when the plumbers attempted to photograph them, though one was caught and charged with trespassing. The others remain at large, possibly planning their next big party.
2. A Squatter Occupied a San Francisco Mansion Due to His Taylor Swift Obsession
Many dream of living in a mansion at some point, and some squatters have experienced this luxury by occupying lavish homes. However, few have gone as far as profiting from their stay.
In 2015, Jeremiah Kaylor moved into the historic Koshland House in Presidio Heights, living there for weeks under the belief that he owned the $22 million property. This delusion led him to sell paintings from the mansion for quick cash. However, his primary motivation was his obsession with Taylor Swift, as he had heard she was considering purchasing the property. Kaylor was eventually arrested for trespassing and burglary, and his dream of leading the Taylor Swift fan club never materialized.
1. One of the World’s Most Iconic Squats
C-Squat is renowned globally among squatters. In 1989, a group took over a dilapidated tenement building on New York City’s Lower East Side. The building, which lacked proper stairs and had apartments connected by ladders, was transformed by the squatters. They repaired the structure and even created a basement venue for punk shows after the floor above collapsed. By the time they were done, C-Squat also featured an indoor skatepark.
In 2002, the squatters of C-Squat began the journey to legal ownership, and by 2015, the building was officially recognized as a cooperative housing unit. This milestone marked a significant victory for squatters globally, while also representing a modest advancement for neglected structures in New York City.
