She bought the Charles Street property in 2011 but it has not been tenanted for about a year while planning, building and heritage approvals were arranged. 

Ms Napier said the delays made the property a prime target for squatters.

“As we are now finally close to work starting, the building surveyor turned up with the builder to find people in it,” she said.

“There were five in total who had moved in furniture and even plugged in a microwave. I have no idea how they got power. While there was no physical damage they left a significant mess which we have to arrange to have cleaned up before the builders can bump in.”

Ms Napier is managing the project from Sydney but said she felt terrible kicking out the group, which included a mother and son in his 20s.

“I grew up in Launceston and only recently moved from Hobart to the mainland and you just don’t see homelessness as overtly in Tassie [as it is on the mainland],” she said.

“That may sound naive as I know it exists, so to realise a mum and her son resorted to squatting during a cold Launceston winter makes me a little sad. It also angers me that the council are more concerned about what we do with the heritage staircase inside than squatters trashing it.”

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A Tasmania Police spokeswoman said the correct term for squatting is ‘adverse possession’ and it occurs where a trespasser has longstanding possession of the land and has not been evicted by the owner.

Squatting is generally a civil dispute, and not a matter in which police would normally become involved, however the offence of trespass is provided for in the Police Offences Act 1935 (Unlawful Entry on Land).

“In essence, a person must not, without reasonable or lawful excuse – proof of which lies on them - enter into, or remain on, any land, building, structure, premises, aircraft, vehicle or vessel without the consent of the owner, occupier or person in charge,” the spokeswoman said. 

“Police have the power to detain and search a person; and where someone refuses to leave, or returns, they may be arrested.”

Ms Napier said the property would be converted into a two bedroom apartment.

“Once it’s all done it will be a very cool space to rent and the end of a rocky road.”