Alex Masi

Josh, 26, (left) is arguing with a police officer (right) in regards to squatting rights, on the day owners of the luxurious 89 Winnington Road mansion came to check on the house and found the squatters inside, on Monday, Oct. 22, 2007 in Hampstead, London, England. On the back, the owners are waiting with a smile on their face, sure enough that the house will be made free again by using the police to their own interests instead of having to proceed to court for a repossession order, the standard practice when dealing with squatters if agreements cannot be made. The mansion was former Indonesian President Haji Mohamed Suharto's top London mansion and was sold in 1999 for UK£ 9.5M when he was being investigated in his home country in regards to his fortune and extravagant lifestyle. Million Dollar Squatters is a documentary project in the lives of a peculiar group of squatters residing in three multi-million mansions in one of the classiest residential neighbourhoods of London, Hampstead Garden. The squatters' enthusiasm, their constant efforts to look after what has become their home, their ingenuity and adventurous spirit have all inspired me throughout the days and nights spent at their side. Between the fantasy world of exclusive Britain and the reality of squatting in London, I have been a witness to their unique story. While more than 100.000 properties in London still lay empty to this day, squatting provides a valid, and lawful alternative to paying Europe's most expensive rent prices, as well as offering the challenge of an adventurous lifestyle in the capital.