Squatters have offered to give back a property to its rightful tenant - as long as Lambeth Council repair it for him first.

Alan Faggetter's West Norwood home was invaded by professional squatters in December after bungling housing bosses moved his family out for repairs in August, only to leave it untouched and empty for four months.

Now Mr Faggetter has struck a deal with the squatters for them to move out of the property, but only when Lambeth Living - the company runing the council’s housing service - carry out the major repairs he has been waiting on for a shocking 20 years.

The seven squatters, who have been giving the 50-year-old his post, said they did not understand it was a family's home. Mr Faggetter had lived there for 27 years.

One, called Richard, said: "There are so many empty homes in London that aren't being used by anyone. We didn't actually want to take someone's home."

"But there is no point in us going until the repairs are ready to be done. If the council want us out, then they have to help Mr Faggetter."

The deal - struck along with Thurlow Park ward councillor John Whelan, police Inspector Nick Fallowfield and the Thurlow Park safer neighbourhoods panel chair Richard Moore - is expected to put intense pressure on Lambeth Living to prioritise the repairs.

Legal action has already started against the squatters, with an eviction hearing set for February 23. Legal bills could cost tax-payers thousands of pounds.

Coun Whelan said: "Lambeth Council and Lambeth Living's treatment of Mr Faggetter has been totally unacceptable. Now they have a chance to do the right thing by him."

Insp Fallowfield said while he did not condone squatting, it was "always important to explore every possibility for resolving local issues".

A Lambeth Living spokesman said contractors would move in once the squatters had left.

He added: “We intend to continue with the legal process as it is well advanced and would protect the property against further squatters. However if the squatters moved peaceably, we would not consider it necessary to instruct bailiffs to remove them from the house.”