Illegal living in a business unit: the municipality of Drechterland is taking firm action against it. This is also the case with the K brothers. They have been imposed a penalty and have to remove the housing facilities from their business unit in Hem. Only they do not agree and they are going to court today. “It seems that different rules apply to us.”
At the beginning of December 2021, a check on business park Zuiderkogge in Hem found several ‘illegal living situations’. There is illegal occupation in at least six business units, the municipality of Drechterland notes. The owners hang a penalty over their heads.
One of those units belongs to JK, who had to appear in court in Haarlem today. He himself is not present, but his brother is. According to the municipality, their business unit on Groeneweg is undivided into three living spaces. “The beds looked slept in. We also found utensils on the table and the kitchen had an extractor hood and oven,” said the municipality.
Treated unfairly
They have to remove a large part of the housing facilities, although his brother, PK, sees it differently. He uses his business unit as a hobby room. “I use it as a workshop to do some work on my cars.” Visibly emotional: “My brother sleeps there every now and then to guard his camper. He is unstable and a mess. My mother doesn’t want that in the house.”
According to him, there are similar situations that have not been imposed a penalty. He won’t say who it is. So emotions run high. “That is strange and crooked, isn’t it? It seems that different rules apply to us. About 120 people sleep on the entire site. I know that, because I speak to them regularly. We are not treated equally” , he says. The municipality sees it differently: “Everyone has been enforced and a penalty has been imposed.”
Fire safety
The municipality of Drechterland once again insists on fire safety. Because on the night of January 28 to 29, it breaks there burn out in one of the business units on the Dorpsweg in Schellinkhout. The units at the front part of the business park have no chance against the sea of flames. During post-extinguishing the body of 38-year-old Edilene from Lelystad was found.
The municipality stands its ground, despite understanding for his personal situation. “If a fire breaks out, the emergency services do not know that the business units are occupied. It is undesirable and dangerous.”
The court in Haarlem will rule no later than July 4.
Business parks Valhalla for drug criminals and illegal habitation
The municipalities in West Friesland – in collaboration with the police and the Environment Agency – are more often carrying out (integrated) inspections of business parks in order to suppress undermining crime and illegal habitation.
It is also examined whether entrepreneurs comply with the applicable laws, rules and zoning plans.