Services
Electricity, water and gas legally cannot be denied to you as long as the wiring and plumbing is still intact. To get these services connected all that is usually required is a phone call to the appropriate company, when you may need to provide a work or real estate agent phone number as a character reference.
Nevertheless, corporate service providers sometimes make it difficult for squatters to have access to these services so, again, be assertive and demand access if need be. If they are being difficult, an assertive reminder of department policy will often help. Try not to tell them you are squatting and always check (and, where possible, repair) plumbing and wiring before applying for connection.
If you cannot repair the parts, and services are unavailable until repairs are made, you may need the services of a tradesperson. Again, try not to let tradespeople know you’re squatting because they may refuse you service on the assumption you’re not going to pay them.
Water
The water is usually connected. If it isn’t, find the mains/water meter tap (usually at the front or back of the building) and turn the tap on. If this doesn’t work, call the corporate water provider in your area, open an account and get the mains turned back on. This means every three months or so you will have to pay for a bill for water consumption.
The owner should be paying water rates on the premises, but some owners who leave buildings empty also neglect to pay rates. Failure to pay rates will often result in the water being turned off at the mains. If this is the case, the corporate water provider will usually reconnect it if you agree to pay off some of the outstanding bill — sometimes even as little as $10.
Alternatively, you may be able to negotiate to pay rates just for the time you’re there. This will probably mean explaining you are squatting and have no contact with the owner.
If you are in contact with the owner and he/she won’t pay the rates, then you may be able to negotiate to pay them — perhaps on the assurance that you can stay there for a certain period of time. If an agreement to stay and pay some rates is made between you and the owner, try and get it confirmed in writing as it could be used as evidence of an implied license for you to stay until the end of the agreed period.
Electricity and Gas
If the wiring is ok then you have a legal right to electricity. Sometimes you will have to provide I.D and something to prove you are a legitimate resident (such as a lease). Here, a good story will often go a long way and get you connected without I.D. For example, you could say you’re busy moving in and need the electricity on A.S.A.P to warm the baby’s bottle. Or, that your flatmate who has the lease is away for the weekend, but you’ll definitely be able to send in a copy next week…
Getting electricity connected will vary from corporate provider to corporate provider. First, call them up anonymously with a hypothetical example: “I’m about to move in to a place that needs the power put on. What will I need to do and what kind of I.D will I need to provide?”
If it turns out the electricity cannot be turned on — for example, due to an irreparably damaged main fuse box — then don’t despair. Solar cells, car batteries, candles and kerosene heaters (used responsibly) can all go some way to making life very possible without mains electricity. Be creative!
Telephone
If all the lines are still intact, an account can be organised over the phone. Otherwise, you’ll need to make a time for company employees to come and reinstall the line. Costs vary according to the extent of the damage and the amount of work they have to do. Again, it helps to make a hypothetical call to sound out what the particular corporate provider will require in terms of I.D, address details and deposit.