Grieving Daughter's Home Invasion Nightmare - Squatters Take Over & Ruin Her Father's Legacy!

In a tale that reads like a script from a dramatic thriller, a grieving daughter in Victoria, Australia, was left reeling from a shocking discovery that would add to her sorrow. Carol, a resident of Westmeadows in Melbourne's northwest, found herself at the centre of a home ownership debate that has since sparked a national conversation, including commentary from the outspoken writer Clementine Ford.

Carol's ordeal began when she approached her late father's home, which had been mostly vacant for the last 12 to 15 years due to her caring responsibilities for her mother and prior renovations. To her astonishment, her key no longer worked. Upon further investigation, she realised that squatters had broken in, changed all the locks, and cleared out the house of all its contents – from furniture and clothing to personal and sentimental items that held memories of her late father.


The emotional toll of such a violation is hard to quantify. For Carol, it wasn't just about the loss of physical items but the erasure of her family's presence from a place that once held so much history and love. The police were called, and with the help of neighbours who confirmed Carol's ownership, they gained entry to the property. The squatters were not present, but evidence of their stay was clear – they had moved in their own furniture, including a fridge and a washing machine.


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A Victorian woman finds squatters have changed the locks and cleared her late father's long-vacant home. Credit: Clementine Ford / Instagram


Legal advice given to Carol suggested hiring a security guard to ward off the squatters and arranging for them to collect their belongings under supervision before changing the locks. However, the situation is not as straightforward as it seems. The incident has highlighted the complexities surrounding property rights, homelessness, and the rental market in Australia.


Clementine Ford, known for her left-wing commentary, weighed in on the debate, sympathising with Carol's loss but also pointing out the failures of the rental market in Australia. Ford defended the squatters' actions, arguing that the dire situation of the rental market and the lack of renters' rights justify the occupation of a house that has been mostly empty for years. She criticised the concept of property as an investment and called for a reevaluation of property ownership as a basic right to help reduce or eliminate homelessness, particularly among older women.

The government's Specialist Homelessness Services Annual Report 2022–23 supports Ford's concerns, revealing a 40% increase in older women seeking help for homelessness in the last decade. The report attributes this rise to a shortage of affordable housing, lower lifetime earnings, and savings for women, and the aging population.

Ford's personal reflections on her own housing insecurity and the broader implications for Australia's property market add depth to the discussion. She calls for stricter regulations on property investors to ensure homes are not left vacant while many struggle to find stable housing.


This incident has opened up a Pandora's box of issues related to property ownership, homelessness, and social justice. It raises questions about the balance between the rights of property owners and the needs of the community, especially in a country where the gap between the haves and have-nots seems to be widening.

As members of the Seniors Discount Club, many of you may have experienced or know someone who has faced similar challenges with property and housing. We invite you to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. How do you think Australia should address the issue of vacant properties and homelessness? What rights should homeowners have when their properties are invaded, and what support should be available to those in need of housing?
Key Takeaways
  • A Victorian woman discovered squatters had changed the locks and cleared out her late father's home, which had been mostly vacant for the last 12 to 15 years.
  • Lawyer David Whiting advised the woman to hire security and confront the squatters to reclaim her property.
  • Writer Clementine Ford highlighted issues with Australia's rental market, expressing sympathy for the women's situation but also defending the squatters' rights due to housing shortages.
  • Ford calls for a change in Australia's attitude towards property ownership, advocating for fixed-term and long-term rental leases to combat homelessness and make housing more accessible, especially for older women facing a crisis in homelessness.
This story is not just about a house; it's about the fabric of our society and how we care for the most vulnerable among us. It's a conversation that needs to be had, and we're here to facilitate that discussion.
 
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Sounds like the last straw to me where the squaters change the locks and keep the owner out.
It is no different to stealing a car and the squaters should be jailed and then they would not be homeless.
 
It's always the same if you leave your house when on holidays for too long squaters will move in and they have all the rights and home owners have none. Even when someone breaks into your home and the dog bites them they can sue for damages. It's just not fair.
 
what a story, just so un real, leave your property for a length, some drop kicks move in, take over, and this useless law allows these crooks to assume ownership,?is this australia? or am I in some third world country?
 
Owned but not visited for 12-15 Years!
I know family duties are long, tough, arduous, but to not even bother to go there to check up, to see if the house had burned down or fallen down defies belief. Unless a manager was employed, or a ‘responsible person’ was appointed to regularly check on, and check out, the property for you and send a regular report, no one would be surprised that others took it to be abandoned!
I have little sympathy for anyone so entitled as to just walk away for such
a monumental length of time!!

Who was mowing lawn, and naturestrip?
Did she think the property did not require any form of RESPONSIBLE upkeep?
I do not support squatters, but neither do I support her absolute and complete failure to be a responsible owner.
No wonder others desperate for a home thought it abandoned!
She is very lucky they did not get to keep the entire property through ADVERSE POSSESSION!
 
I don’t care if she never went back again. The property and everything in it was HERS!! No one has the right to just move in and take your stuff! I’d feel less outraged if the squatters had safely stored her things elsewhere but to get rid of it??? That’s awful. I don’t care how desperate you are. There was nothing stopping those squatters doing an owners search and maybe asking if they could move in while it was unoccupied. But no,they just moved in. Typical entitled behaviour.
 
what a story, just so unreal, leave your property for a length, some drop kicks move in, take over, and this useless law allows these crooks to assume ownership? Is this Australia? or am I in some third world country?
We are heading at a fast speed to being a 3rd world country. Our rights have been eroded for years, along with our freedom of lifestyle and speech. It's not going to get any better unless the people of this nation who love this land stand up, get proactive and start standing against it instead of talking about it. The time for talk is over, and the time for action is upon us. And don't think the pseudo government will help us either, because they don't care and won't.
 
Personally, I think this woman disrespected her deceased father by not going to the home for 15 years even though she was caring for her mother you can't tell me she was doing it 24/7 there is always respite care available.
Yes, what you say is correct. How can how somebody leave their premises for that length of time and not check up on it and its upkeep? Got me beat. She brought a lot of this on herself and her family.
 
Too bad for Carol, but no sympathy.

The Victorian Limitations Of Action Act 1958 states that if a property has been vacant for 15 years, then it is anybody's for the taking under the "adverse possessions" clause.
There you go. She should have been on the ball in respect of the upkeep of the property and it's use. She could have at least rented it out and had some income on it.
 
I don’t care if she never went back again. The property and everything in it were HERS!! No one has the right to just move in and take your stuff! I’d feel less outraged if the squatters had safely stored her things elsewhere but to get rid of it??? That’s awful. I don’t care how desperate you are. There was nothing stopping those squatters doing an owner's search and maybe asking if they could move in while it was unoccupied. But no, they just moved in. Typical entitled behaviour.
Do you really think squatters are going to care about making enquiries. All they wanted was a place to live. They don't care about the owners. Free home to them. A terrible loss for her and her family.
 
Owned but not visited for 12-15 Years!
I know family duties are long, tough, arduous, but to not even bother to go there to check up, to see if the house had burned down or fallen down defies belief. Unless a manager was employed, or a ‘responsible person’ was appointed to regularly check on, and check out, the property for you and send a regular report, no one would be surprised that others took it to be abandoned!
I have little sympathy for anyone so entitled as to just walk away for such
a monumental length of time!!

Who was mowing lawn, and naturestrip?
Did she think the property did not require any form of RESPONSIBLE upkeep?
I do not support squatters, but neither do I support her absolute and complete failure to be a responsible owner.
No wonder others desperate for a home thought it abandoned!
She is very lucky they did not get to keep the entire property through ADVERSE POSSESSION!
Spot on!
 
We are heading at a fast speed to being a 3rd world country. Our rights have been eroded for years, along with our freedom of lifestyle and speech. It's not going to get any better unless the people of this nation who love this land stand up, get proactive and start standing against it instead of talking about it. The time for talk is over, and the time for action is upon us. And don't think the pseudo government will help us either, because they don't care and won't.
Would like to join any action group that would bring about a change in our diminishing freedom. Does anyone know of such a group.
 
Somebody really should be able to leave a home vacant, without the fear of squatters taking over. In this case would it have been a good idea to go to the neighbours and let them know the house will be vacant would you be kind enough to keep an eye on the property this is my contact details. Hire a gardener to up keep the property set up a night light or two inside. I realise this house was empty for many years, but really who is it up to judge what people do with their property.
I know we have a housing crisis and l truly feel for anyone who is looking for somewhere to live. But for what ever reason someone wants to leave a home vacant it's really no ones business.
Some may disagree with me.
Kind regards to all Vicki
 
My sincerest sympathy to her. However, she has made a terrible mistake from which I she and other people learn from. If you know you are going to be involved in long term care, put everything in storage and rent the property out.
I hope she is pursuing this through legal channels, and I hope she wins.
 
We are heading at a fast speed to being a 3rd world country. Our rights have been eroded for years, along with our freedom of lifestyle and speech. It's not going to get any better unless the people of this nation who love this land stand up, get proactive and start standing against it instead of talking about it. The time for talk is over, and the time for action is upon us. And don't think the pseudo government will help us either, because they don't care and won't.
Heading towards a 3rd world country..... we are a 3rd world country.. the modernized edition of one.
 
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