Squatters in Urbex: Who They Are, How to Recognize Them, and What to Do
When we talk about Urbex, we often think of completely empty buildings, silent and frozen in time. But a seemingly abandoned place isn't necessarily devoid of people.
Some abandoned buildings may be home to squatters , people who occupy or use a property without title. In Italy, the phenomenon of squatting in abandoned buildings is well-known and also represents an urban security issue.
For those who practice Urbex, the problem is not so much knowing who these people are, but understanding when a location might not be truly empty and knowing when it is best not to continue .
In this article:
Who are the squatters?
The English term squatter is generally used to indicate a person who occupies a property without having legal title to it.
The term, however, doesn't necessarily identify a particular category of people. Situations can vary greatly, and it's incorrect to assume who they are, why they're in the building, or what their intentions are.
For those who do Urbex, therefore, it is more useful to talk about the presence of people within a location rather than trying to classify those who find themselves in front of it.
A building can be abandoned from the point of view of its original use and, at the same time, be frequented or occupied.
Because they can be found in abandoned buildings
Abandoned buildings can attract people for several reasons.
Some properties are permanently occupied, others may be used temporarily as shelter or a place to stay. Still others may be occupied by people who use the spaces for completely different activities.
The deterioration of a structure can also encourage occupation and create urban safety issues. For this very reason, governments may classify some abandoned and dilapidated buildings as problematic for safety, health, or public security.
For the explorer, the most important consequence is simple: one should not assume that an abandoned building is empty.
Signs that may indicate a presence
There is no surefire way to tell if a property is occupied.
However, there are some clues that, especially if present simultaneously, may suggest that someone regularly frequents the place.
These may include:
recently used doors or windows;
personal items left in certain environments;
mattresses, blankets or sleeping bags;
clothes and shoes;
recent food or drink containers;
water bottles;
personal hygiene products;
candles or other sources of light;
chairs, tables or furniture arranged in an apparently recently arranged manner;
waste concentrated in certain points;
areas that appear to have been set up for lodging.
A single object, of course, does not prove that the building is occupied.
A bottle or blanket might have been left by a visitor months earlier. It's the combination of signs, and especially their recent appearance, that can raise suspicion.
Objects and modifications that may suggest an occupation
An abandoned building generally features items left in place many years ago.
A different situation is when some environments appear to have been organized for use.
A mattress placed in a room, folded blankets, worn clothing, recent food, or everyday objects may be more significant signs than the usual remains found in an abandoned structure.
Even a seemingly very tidy area inside an extremely run-down building may deserve attention.
The point is not to establish with certainty who uses that space, but to understand that there might be someone nearby .
Noises, lights and other signals
Not all signs are visible.
Noises coming from inside, voices, music, doors closing or lights turning on can indicate someone's presence.
Even seemingly insignificant noises can become significant when the surrounding environment is completely silent.
If while exploring you clearly hear people inside a structure you thought was empty, the wisest course of action is not to try to figure out who they are or where they came from.
There is no need to personally verify someone's presence.
How to behave if you think there is someone there
The most important rule is simple: don't get close.
If you suspect a property may be occupied, avoid searching for the person or entering areas where noise or other signals are coming from.
Don't call someone to get their attention or seek a confrontation.
If the presence is noticed while you are already there, the priority should be to remove yourself from the situation without causing conflict.
Urbex isn't worth the risk of turning a simple exploration into a potentially dangerous situation.
What NOT to do
There are some behaviors that are best avoided completely.
Don't look for squatters.
Do not intentionally enter rooms where you think someone may be living or staying.
Do not touch or move personal items.
Do not intentionally photograph people present.
Don't provoke, insult or argue.
Don't try to figure out who owns or occupies the building by directly confronting the people present.
And above all, don't think that being in a group means you can deal with a situation like this.
Being accompanied may increase overall safety, but it does not make a conflict situation safe.
Squatters and personal safety
The presence of other people within a location is one of the reasons why Urbex should not be considered a completely risk-free activity.
It is not possible to know in advance how a person will react when caught in a space they consider their own.
He might simply ignore the scouts' presence, ask to leave, or react in a completely different way.
This is why it is important not to turn the meeting into a confrontation.
If a situation appears threatening, the priority should be to move away and seek help from authorities when necessary .
When is it better to give up?
One of the most important aspects of Urbex is understanding when it is not worth continuing.
If a location has obvious signs of occupancy, people present, noises coming from inside, or other situations that suggest the place is not empty, forgoing exploration may simply be the best option.
The same applies when the building has particularly precarious structural conditions or other obvious dangers.
A location can always be photographed again, or replaced with another destination.
A photograph is not worth a dangerous situation.
Urbex and respect for the people present
There is also an ethical aspect to consider.
Urbex was born from a curiosity for forgotten places, from photography and documentation. Just because someone is inside a structure doesn't mean they have to become part of the exploration.
If a person uses an environment as a shelter or dwelling, that situation deserves special respect.
For this reason, it is important not to publish images that allow people to be identified and not to turn their presence into a spectacle.
The goal of Urbex should be to tell the story of a place , not to embarrass those who find themselves there.
Conclusions
Squatters are a reality that can be encountered while exploring some abandoned buildings.
The most important sign to remember is that abandoned does not necessarily mean empty .
Mattresses, blankets, clothing, recent food, personal items, noises, lights, or organized environments may suggest that a structure is still in use. However, none of these factors, taken individually, allows us to establish with certainty who is present or for how long.
The most important thing is therefore not to seek confirmation by delving deeper into the structure.
If a location appears busy, the safest course of action is to keep your distance, avoid confrontation, and, if necessary, forgo exploration.
Urbex is about discovering forgotten places, taking photographs, and sharing experiences. It doesn't mean putting your own safety or that of others to the test.
Finally, it's important to remember that a building's state of abandonment does not automatically mean it can be accessed: any visits must always respect property, restrictions, and safety regulations.
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