In the UK we can use self defence. In law it is defined as the minimum force necessary to prevent the occurance of, or the continuation of, an offence. Self defence can also include defending your property. The amount of force you're allowed to use in these situations is defined as "reasonable and necessary": you can equal the amount of force used against you and slightly exceed it. This is all relative: it takes less force to restrain a 5' 2" slighlty built female, than it would an England Rugby forward. So beating them over the head isn't really allowed.. Tho, as far as I'm concerned, you break into my house you're taking your chances... nasty things, walls and stair cases.. :Titan:
To show self-defence you must:
1. show that you reasonably fear immediate attack.
2. show that you had no alternative avenue of escaping the attack. If you can, you must run away.
3. your response must be proportionate to the threat. If someone threatens you with a balloon, you may not respond with a knife. If your own life is not under threat you cannot threaten somebody else's life.