Squatter awarded damages after owner removes roof as he sleeps inside
A London County Court judge found property owner Ravinder Laly harassed Nicola Saia by starting to remove the roof of a former music venue while Saia was asleep inside. The ruling means Saia, who had been living there without legal tenancy, was awarded damages, though the judge rejected most of his claims.
Saia had previously stayed at The Cricketers in Kennington as a property guardian and said he remained there until council accommodation became available in July 2023. The judge found the roof work and a brief water cut were harassment, but dismissed claims involving Wi-Fi and boarding up the property; he also ruled there was no breach of the Protection from Eviction Act. The venue, built in the 1860s, had hosted acts including The Pogues and Happy Mondays.
- A judge found the owner harassed a resident by removing the roof while he slept inside.
- The resident was not a legal tenant, so most of his claims were dismissed.
- The former Cricketers venue had hosted major acts before becoming flats.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Even without a tenancy, Saia was entitled to protection from harassment, and beginning roof removal while he slept inside created a foreseeable risk and pressure to leave without proper process. The damages award affirms that owners must use lawful, safe means to regain control of a property.
The case against
Laly had a legitimate interest in securing and repairing his property, and Saia had no legal tenancy or right to remain there indefinitely. The judge dismissed most of Saia’s claims and found no breach of the Protection from Eviction Act, which supports the view that the ruling was confined to particular conduct rather than denying owners the ability to recover possession.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Squatter awarded thousands in damages after music venue owner found guilty of ‘harassment’ for demolishing building while ‘tenant’ slept in bed”.