Squatters Estate Agency (SEA)
May 17 2007 15:28
I think it was sometime last year I was in Reading talking to UrbanSpirit and his primo friend when he suggested a really good idea…
Why not set up an estate agency for squatters?
This could be a purely online agency to make people aware of places that are currently available to squat in, with a pic, full postal address & details about the area and how easy it is to get in and secure. We could also rate each dwellings current condition.
The advisory service for squatters (ASS) in London has a notice board with numbers and addresses of squats but some have been taken or demolished ages ago, it’s not kept up-to-date.
The squatters estate agency (SEA) should initially be a London based but there is no reason that it can’t also include sections for empty dwellings around the UK or even worldwide.
A good starting point would be to pop into ASS and filter through the notice board and see what is still appropriate and what is old rubbish. Take the info and put it up on the SEA website (once we set one up) then Check out the locations and take a pic of each one.
If people are aware of any places in their area they can submit them to SEA with all the appropriate details.
What are people’s thoughts?
May 17 2007 18:44
#2
and it's out of date because people don't //keep// it up to date - what makes you think this website would be any more succesful? The other thing being that squatters tend to want to keep an eye out for their next place - or for their friends - and not for some anonymous kids...
May 17 2007 19:51
#3
Why ou say kids si?
May 17 2007 19:57
#4
was equivocating over whether or not to say Euros. decided against it in the end.
May 17 2007 23:04
#5
http://www.schnews.org.uk/archive/round-squatters-estate-agency.htm
That was interesting, shame it only lasted 10 days, though an online version obviously would last alot longer
May 17 2007 23:32
#6
The only way I can see this being useful is as some publicity stunt in a campaign around housing - I can't see it having any practical use for squatters.
The listing at ASS isn't really used because it's easier for people to spot buildings themselves. If you're squatting and want to live somewhere as long as possible then you want to stay low-key - advertising the building on the internet isn't low-key.
May 18 2007 14:22
#7
Fair point Thora
May 18 2007 14:30
#8
Would this be a website where people would submit addresses etc? Or would you be finding squats and listing them, either way is there enough energy or demand for squats to sustain such a project? Is the only thing stopping people from squatting a lack of knowledge of where the buildings are like?
May 18 2007 19:47
#9
guydebordisdead
To be honest, I don't know, like what Thora ws saying, for those who already squat this most likely wont be that useful but for those squatting newbies I reckon it will be very useful, I have spoken to people before (not Anarchists) who have said "I have thought about it before but didnt know how or where to start"
So maybe to the newbies it could be good.
It would be a combination of other people submiting properties and those involved with it looking around, I mean I personally see about 20 or so empty building on my way to work every day.
I wont bother with this idea if there is no support, ive posted it on RevLeft as well so im hoping for some people to be interested in helping.
May 18 2007 20:06
#10
TheUnderground - aren't you making one of the same mistakes you did with your paper - i.e. ignoring the people who're already squat, organise round squatting, and have done for years? Why not go to speak to ASS?
If someone was looking to start squatting, no list of addresses will demystify it. On the other hand, the Squatters Practical Network meetings that are held every fortnight especially to help people who're relatively new to squatting, as well as mutual organising... why don't you go along and speak with people about your ideas?
May 18 2007 20:14
#11
I used to squat and I have several friends who are squatters.
How we got into it was going to ASS who just pointed us to the notice board for places which as i stated most have been up there for years and are really out of date.
I never said that I wouldnt speak to ASS, please have in mind that this is just an idea at this stage, it hasnt been looked into with any depth, im just putting some feelers out there and see if it would be worth while looking at it in depth.
Bar the passing conversation with a couple of mates over a few beers it hasnt been discussed with anyone let alone ASS, I am just making a point that this is the very initial stage of what is only an idea.
If its bollox then its bollox and i'll move on to something else.
May 19 2007 00:43
#12
The Underground - can you focus your relentless enthusiasm on helping me revise for my last exam?
May 19 2007 08:43
#13
Alan
HHAHAHAA... no
Good luck anyway
Jun 16 2007 10:26
#14
Well someone has contacted me about SEA and after a little chat with him/her it looks like we will go ahead with it.
www.squattersestateagency.tk
I popped into 56a InfoShop the other day and noticed on the wall outside there was a thing saying that a group of people were going around london and finding places then posting them up in InfoShop (then going for vegan pizza) while the vegan pizza idea was shit (I like meat) the other idea was interesting and could be usefull to link up with them (if anyone knows the people who did it perhaps you could let them know and hook us up).
Cheers for your support & the upcoming barrage of abuse 
Jun 16 2007 11:24
#15
How dare you.
Jun 16 2007 15:31
#16
If you're going to do it, it might be worth trying to find some slightly better hosting, that doesn't carry loads of shit adverts. Riseup.net might be worth trying.
Jun 16 2007 17:28
#17
Jimmer
Funny you should mention that as the people who host http://mpi-web.net/mutiny/ have offered to host ours.
Jun 17 2007 02:47
#18
That's nice of them. I just reckon, if you're going to do anything and want people to take you seriously, it's worth getting something which isn't plastered in adverts, just makes you look a bit amateur, although that could only be to people like me...
Jun 17 2007 08:47
#19
No, that's a fair comment and I agree. It's good that they have offered this because i don't really understand servers & hosting & HTML etc so its good to have some help.
Jun 17 2007 09:07
#20
TheUnderground.
I'd strongly suggest buying a "teach yourself html" book before you do anything more with this. As it is, you almost certainly won't be able to take your domain name with you to the new hosting because it seems like it's tied to your hosting package - it's fine to try stuff and scrap it, and move hosts etc. etc. but you need to learn the basics as you go along otherwise you really won't get anywhere. Try 123reg or godaddy for domains - buying one will cost you around £5-6/year, and at least if you get that done properly you can take it with you.
Jun 17 2007 10:37
#21
catch: .tk is a free doman name, it's dead easy to take it with you.
theunderground: In the Netherlands, UK, & Spain you can disable the banner ad by sending an SMS to Dot TK. Costs about £1 as I remember. info is on the site once you long in.
Jun 17 2007 10:57
#22
Cheers & Cheers
Jun 19 2007 00:12
#23
I have now submitted the files to the new host so hopefully it will be up with them soon.
I think I will get a book on learning html
I have added a couple of new things on the front page and London section.
Jun 19 2007 19:19
#24
I e-mailed ASS & InfoShop about this but no reply
As you say ASS and also 56a has this information already. They dont want to put it online because they dont want to make it easy to find squats or something, or let landlords know their properties are considered to be squatable.