Southampton squatters live in former Blockbuster store

Around five people have been living in the building in Portswood High Street - with two telling the Echo their newfound home is 'all they have'.

Couple Rico, 22, and Maria, 18, have been living in the building - strewn with debris including a road sign, vehicle registration plate, record player and shopping basket - for around five months.

The couple, who did not want to give their full names, have spoken out as they fear being evicted by bailiffs - and say they would have to sleep rough on the streets if that does happen.

Maria, who along with the others has barricaded the front door over fear of eviction, said: “After a troubled home life we both found ourselves on the streets with nowhere to turn.

“The housing system is broken – it failed us and so many others. This place is all we have.

“I barely get any sleep for fear people will let themselves in and steal our belongings – which they have many times.

Rico added: “I had been squatting in London after being homeless for about two years.

“We have experienced some tough times here - we came back one day to find that people had stolen the copper off the roof which meant that all of our personal belongings were ruined and we were left with nothing.

“If I manage to get a full-time job and a decent salary, I still would not have enough for a one-bed flat in Southampton.”

The pair said that they felt that the council and the Government had failed them and that they were an example of those who had fallen through the cracks.

The council currently has a £120m scheme underway in a bid to build 8,000 affordable homes across the city.

As reported by the Echo, in October last year 7,508 households were on the housing register with wait times ranging from one year and four months up to over 11 years.

Portswood ward councillor Katherine Barbour has been fighting to represent the needs of the Blockbuster squatters.

She says no-fault evictions - which the Government has vowed to ban - mean the council is 'overwhelmed'.

The Green Party representative said: "We need to take action on empty buildings and convert them into homes for local people.

“There are over 8,000 people in Southampton on the housing waiting list. Due to the continuing use of Section 21 evictions, the council is overwhelmed by families being evicted."

Retired teacher Glyn Oliver, 69, is the co-ordinator of the Housing Action Group in Southampton.

He said: “The housing situation in Southampton is a catastrophe.

“We have council waiting lists that are a decade long. We are looking at a pretty grim situation in Southampton – it is very sad for the future generation.

“I would like to see more squatting, particularly of those Housing blocks built which stand empty, while people are homeless or living in degraded temporary accommodation.

"People deserve the very basic right to have a roof over their heads. And for those that are struggling and in such despair squatting may be the only viable option.

“I am begging Southampton City Council to please be proactive in getting people into housing – this can't go on much longer.”

The council was approached for comment.