Factual error: 2016 special - You Can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks: Mr Harmon comments on a perfume called Belle, which he thinks is called "Belly", "I wonder what the next one will be called. Bingo Wings?" The episode is set in 1988 and the term "bingo wings" didn't exist before the 1990s. (00:10:40)
Continuity mistake: The Gentlemen's and Ladies' Department is on the first, third, or fourth floor of Grace Brothers, depending on the episode.
Other mistake: The gender of Mrs Slocombe's cat is always different in each episode. Sometimes her cat is a female and other times it is a male. (eg. In 'Mrs Slocombe Expects', her cat is female. In 'No Sale', when Mrs. Slocombe complains about her having to get up to have a bath at 6:00 in the morning, she says, "The gurgling of the tank woke him up.").
Other mistake: There is another counter on the floor, to the right of the stairs, that is usually staffed by two women besides Ms. Brahms and Mrs. Slocombe. But throughout the show when there is a on-floor meeting for the entire floor staff, these two are never included in the discussions.
Continuity mistake: The set up of the canteen changes from episode to episode. It is never the same way twice.
Continuity mistake: If a character says their assistant number throughout the show, they are different each time.
Continuity mistake: Sometimes Mrs. Slocombe has discretion over both inventory and displays and what they will and will not sell in the ladies department, other times its Captain Peacock, Mr. Rumboldt or others that have the final say.
Answer: That wasn't possible in 1972. Until recently squatting was a civil offence in the UK, not a criminal one, and removing squatters was a complex and time consuming business.