Squatters on my property reddit. They have tried to burn the building down.

Squatters on my property reddit Can a 3-month squatter in California claim to be a tenant and get the rights of a tenant if there is CCTV showing them breaking into the property? After reading on UK law regarding squatters rights, I know they can't legally claim ownership of the house until 10 years of squatting at the property, but I'm just curious if anyone has had any similar issues with squatters. I was browsing Reddit when I noticed a sub r/squatting where people were discussing how they find and identify properties that they squat in, what their process is, etc. In one of the more famous cases, the squatter may not have been a squatter at all. I feel that someone who's squatting, who actually has enough resources to maintain the place and pay property tax, is doing more good for the neighborhood and the value of neighbor's homes by keeping the place up. About 2 weeks before he passed away, he let a friend of a friend stay in his house on a temporary basis to help her get back on her feet. As an example, a settler moves into an unsettled area and builds a home. One of the squatters claims to be a Harvard educated lawyer. Hey everyone, is it a good idea to invest in a foreclosed property where the original owner defaulted on the loan & refusing to leave the property? Location is Pennsylvania. The police is obligated to notify the court (or night court), ask the squatters to leave, and if they refuse, ask the court for an eviction order. IsItBullshit: Someone can break into your home when you're not home and claim they are living there, and the police can't kick them out. My landlord died almost 4 months ago, what now? Are we squatters? (PA, Philly) Hi, I'm living in the Philly metro area. Understanding what is permissible under the law is crucial before taking any action. HERE is the company site. This shouldn't take longer than 48 hours. When I discovered my neighbors fence is on my property, I drew up a lease so he rents that strip of land for $1 per year. In my state it takes 21 years for adverse possession to kick in; so actually coming to own the place would be a bonus. Was further explained something about Detroit having squatters rights and that I should take him to court for eviction to cover my ass. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. In communities where property abandonment is a problem, a squatter moving into an abandoned property and maintaining it so as to prevent it from becoming a blight on the community should be given some ownership interest in the property depending on how much time passes and how much they maintain it. " In true squatting situations, which are incredibly few and far between, the owner of the property has options to remove them. Property owners may feel an urge to protect their rights, but acting impulsively can lead to serious legal consequences. I live in new jersey and squatters rights terms go that if you live on a piece of land for around xx amount of years you can claim that land as your own, squatters here are different compared to trespassers. I’m asking about squatters not renters ,squatters that have no rights to be there. There is absolutely no information to suggest a break in, or that they weren't lawful tenants or guests. The majority of real squatters rights stories that I've heard of in my lifetime were more situations where someone has been renting some property for ages and been a great tenant, and suddenly the property ownership at large changes hands and now for some reason the new owners are losing their minds making all kinds of fussy changes and demands of the new tenant when they were being perfectly I don’t know about NY, but in CA a squatter isn’t a squatter (and thus has no legal squatting protections) unless they have been doing ALL of the following, in addition to living in the house: paying the utilities with all the utilities accounts in their own name, paying the mortgage each month, paying the property taxes, and maintaining 33 votes, 84 comments. We advocate for squatter’s rights and believe everyone has a right to a roof over their head. A subreddit to help you keep up to date with what's going on with reddit and other stuff. ” Here are five creative (and legal) ways for handling squatters that smart investors should know to avoid the stress and financial burden of lost rental income, property damage, expensive repairs, and a painfully long eviction process. Reply reply HowLittleIKnow • r/squatting is a space for the squatters of the world. do any of you know any cases of people being attacked or killed by somebody in an abandoned property while exploring? In order for a squatter to gain adverse possession four things must occur: 1) Occupation must be hostile without permission of the owner, 2) Squatter must physically occupy the property, 3) Occupation must be open, notorious, and obvious, 4) Squatter must occupy the property exclusively and continuously for a specific period of time. The police have been there twice in the last two weeks but nothing seems to be getting done. I filed for eviction not because of non-payment issues but because of livability issues. In the meantime, my family and I feel unsafe. What was taught to property class at law school is that squatters' rights help promote the highest and best use of a property. The term "squatter's rights" typically refers to adverse possession, and in that case "squatter" means someone who is in the process of exercising adverse possession on a property. The legal term for squatting is adverse possession. Whatever you do - take time-stamped photos of everything as evidence - you don't want these people trying to claim you broke or stole anything, and/or overstating the value of any of their property. If you have proof of residence, you only have to go to the police with such proof (like utilities bills) and ask for the squatters to be removed. The idea is that a squatter making a home out of a property is better than that property being ignored by the original owner. As for how a squatter can claim a property via adverse possession will also depend on where it is we're talking about. We live in Missouri. She just showed up to boot these people with a locksmith and got herself arrested (which is probably exactly what she wanted). Squatting or Trespassing: What’s the Difference? If you believe in the property rights of individuals, squatters should be removed, by force if necessary (by force, I mean physically removed, not weapons). Once again, where I live, a squatter must: • Occupy the property for at least five consecutive years • Cultivate or improve the land or property • Pay all state, county, or municipal taxes throughout their occupation The whole squatter furor has really been a bit more complex than the media made it out to be. To drastically oversimplify, it is when you conspicuously and continuously act as if you own a piece of real property for a period of years (typically around seven, but it varies by state). I know that squatters exist but I did not know that they had an entire community based around their ideology. Jan 28, 2025 · The issue of squatters occupying property raises complex legal and ethical questions, particularly regarding the use of force. Problem is you then end up with lying squatters, where the police simply aren't able to tell on the spot who is in the right. Last, in most places squatters rights are really hard to get, even if you wait out the time. So naturally, I looked up the squatters rights and to my surprise this is a normal thing?? I just can’t believe anyone would make this someone’s Why do squatters have rights? Why do they have the right to steal another person's home and live there for free and the cops can't do anything about it. There Though I disapprove of squatters, by law there's a way for your parents to acquire the property and have it titled. The I once had a squatter in my house that I was renting out. Squatters' rights, or adverse possession laws, exist to address situations where land or property is abandoned or not being actively used by the legal owner. Continuous Possession —The squatter must hold continuous and uninterrupted possession of the property (for three to ten consecutive years in Texas) Allowing these squatters to remain and giving them legal rights over the property can revitalize these homes that are otherwise dilapidated. Oct 13, 2024 · Squatters' rights protect unauthorized occupants under certain laws. Squatters don’t need to have ever had a tenancy, just to prove how long they’ve lived in the property. You can apply if you can prove: You, or a succession of squatters, have occupied the property continuously for 10 years (12 years if it’s not registered with HM Land Registry) Caretake of previous resident of that property (unknown from given info own the property at any point). There is no property of his here, he does not have keys or his address here. Here's why police may be unable to remove them and what it means for property owners. Have any of you experienced this in one of your properties? I have a property that is not in my home market and More often than not, the term "squatter" is used incorrectly in this sub and is intended to mean "someone who lives here who won't leave. Then I can do a public lookup of each house in the "Cadaster" city office which will yield the owner's name and if the property taxes are paid or not ($5 euros for each lookup). Left behind all of his brand new appliances, all kinds of decor and interesting things, a garage full of random goodies. So, for instance, if you are there with permission, you can't get squatter's rights. . There is no lease. And considering the effort and neglect it would actually take to not be immediately charged with trespassing. I currently have squatter neighbors that sell and use meth. What I would do in Spain, is to check the city maps to get the land/house number for each property. Homeowners and property owners should have every right to kick some homeless bum out or off their property with zero punishment. A company here in LA county has found a quick way to get rid of illegal squatters through the use of Home Inspector rules. My guess is the rent is too high. If you have balls of steel, would it be an option to move in with them while you’re going through the eviction process? : r/legaladviceofftopic     Gaming Sports Business Crypto Television Celebrity Go to legaladviceofftopic r/legaladviceofftopic r/legaladviceofftopic I don’t own any property in CA! Here’s why I asked, in this post I saw on instagram a woman who hosts her home as an airbnb is having an issues trying to remove a squatter from her home. 18 votes, 19 comments. This article explores the legal boundaries surrounding the use I would start with you contacting the property owner and telling them your concerns and finding out if they have a plan in place. Edit: I called the cops. While yes, people can get squatters rights in NY after 30 days, we have no idea who these squatters are. If it is an investor property there very well may be a condition about vacancy at closing but a squatter appearing in a property between the date of sale contract and closing would be an unusual circumstance unlikely to be directly addressed by sale contract. Cops said we have to go through the court system and that can take months. Many crazy people come over at all hours. Reply reply Interesting-Ad3759 • Reply reply prezz85 • Reply reply more replyMore replies atr130 • Reply reply SteelReserve40s • Reply reply more repliesMore replies aldsar • Reply reply Lolthelies • Reply reply More replies Benny-B We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Here's the rundown: For about a year, my property remained vacant until one day I discovered a young man, 27 years old, had moved his belongings in. I agree with this, provided that the property is in use. So until that period is up, you're probably just a trespasser which means that it would be You can't even begin to have "squatter's rights" to property until that period lapses, and it's usually 15, 20, or 30 years. They have tried to burn the building down. It’s incumbent on the owner to take an active interest in their house which ultimately can save lives by protecting people from exposure and allowed them to participate in society by having an address. com Jul 3, 2023 · The property owner said she repeatedly changed the locks only to have the squatters gain entry by climbing on the roof and entering through upper windows. In some States, squatters have rights as tenants or claims to ownership of a property through “adverse possession. 5. 4. Squatters rights are tricky, but you can’t just stay as a guest and for a month and claim them, and adverse possession require “openly and notoriously” occupying the property for, I believe, seven years with color of title or 20 otherwise. Perhaps they have already started an eviction? Then also contact the nonemergency line of the police and ask to speak to your community resource officer about what you can do to help them help you. The squatter has surely figured out that we're involved in his eviction and we're concerned that he may soon retaliate against US, either by vandalizing our property or by moving into OUR property while we're gone this summer. trueFile the police report and ask them whether you can/should remove the property. For example, squatters rights in Texas deem that squatters can claim ownership of property if they meet certain qualifications such as how long they’ve been there an other conditions set by Texas Law. A squatter is someone who occupies an abandoned property without the knowledge or permission of the property owner. i know most people are terrified of encountering squatters or other people while exploring but i feel like in most cases you'd probably just greet each other and leave, not all squatters want to stab you. That seems ridiculous to me. If you found yourself in a disagreement with a squatter who refused to leave a rental property that you own, would you shoot/kill the squatter? What most people mean when they talk about "squatters rights" negatively is the difficulty in kicking out squatters (trespassers) from abandonned property you own. If this person's actions aren't harming the owner enough to make them homeless and "defending" the ownership of the property would actually do that kind of harm back to the squatter my sympathy ultimately does lie with the squatter. Good luck the squatters; on my street they burned down a house. The court system is so backed up that the squatters know they can stay for at least 6 months to a year without paying rent. The potential squatter needs to be able to gain access to the property without breaking anything (window/lock etc. This enables governments to collect more taxes and increase the utility of the land by allowing use of it when it is otherwise being left in a reduced state. After that time is up, you are then deemed to own the property. What can I do to secure my property while this squatter lives next door? That's crazy you should ask, because we squatted a foreclosure property in a fine middle class neighborhood "near" Colorado. Exclusive Possession —The squatter does not share possession of the property with anyone else. “The first thing might be to go to law enforcement and say, ‘I’ve got somebody squatting on my property’,” Fisher said. They airbnb the property for a month and now wont leave. Once the homeowner passed away, the squatter continued staying on the property, claiming the deceased left him the right to do so. Squatters rights don't apply if they are trespassing on already occupied property . Reply reply more replyMore repliesMore replies more reply More repliesMore replies jamesh08 • Reply reply PhysFreak_ml-1_kg-1 • Reply reply Junkmans1 •• Edited Depending on where you are in the U. Reading about the squatters laws there & seems promising that new owner can evict them. Adverse possession would allow the squatters to take legal ownership of the property after 21 years, if they meet certain criteria. The house was beautiful, the owner had taken the last mortgage and split for California. My grandfather had land that was occupied by informal settlers, as in nakapag pagawa pa sila ng bahay. Whether it's occupying vacant land or vacant property for personal, communal or political reasons, this is the place to talk about it. See full list on wikihow. Not only the squatter issue, but your house should not be sitting that long. These laws were initially designed to encourage the productive use of land and resolve disputes over property ownership. In many countries, squatters do not have free access to the property and they can be removed for trespassing at any time. The guy who runs r/ShitRentals was in the news only a few days ago about this very issue. We ended up owning all their things on the property, of course we just threw them away. No written lease agreement, no money exchanged, nothing. They've turned it into a complete eye sore, with homeless people, and garbage by the pick up load getting dumped and spread all around the property. There is little disincentive for squatters because they can just leave in a few months when there is a court order. ) or, just like vampires, be invited into the household, or they face being charged with breaking and entering. Apr 15, 2024 · In the dynamic realm of real estate, the presence of squatters in vacant or forsaken properties emerges as a contentious and thought-provoking issue. The squatters wanted to fight for it, took them to court, they lost. The Is it legal for me to do a hold mail with the post office so that my package and possibly our W2's don't get sent to this random person? I am not actually living at the address and do not have access to the property, but do have a lease in my name stating that I am renting it effective 1/18/23. Suppose you came back from vacation to someone squatting in your home. The idea of squatters rights is very old and predates the United States by centuries. My landlord passed away at the beginning of 2024, and we and the other tenants on his properties have heard nothing from anyone claiming to inherit the property. A squatter refuses to leave a home owners rental and has been there for over 500 days demanding $100k to leave. Nobody wins and land/property owners get screwed, having to battle in court for who knows how long There's an article from Los Angeles. The owner of the property would have to go to court and pay legal fees to get their house back. It was to keep people from owning multiple buildings and not using them for years leaving them to rot which is especially bad in a housing crisis. The Squatting on county land, has anyone done it? Ok so i have some knowledge of the legal aspect of squatters rights in my state. Understanding the housing crises I let squatters on a property next to me hook up to my power, water, and septic 18 months… [Landlord - US - FL] Squatter in my deceased dad’s house won’t leave Landlord My dad passed away in late April. 6 days ago · Squatter’s rights refer to the rights of a squatter, which is someone that is living on property that is not theirs. 2 upright pianos Finally it came to eviction and I wasn't Mar 12, 2025 · California Laws California Squatter's Rights Guide: 2025 Laws, Recent Developments, and Property Protection The new trespassing notice system enables quicker police response to squatting situations without requiring the lengthy civil court process previously necessary. I own a property in Atlanta but recently encountered a squatter issue in my New York property. Here is there YT channel. Which is why I say we abolish squatters rights and adverse possession laws. So much crazy shit has happened since they started squatting. Plus in PA a landlord tenant eviction is usually faster and easier than a squatter trespass. I'm reading a lot of about how squatters automatically have rights when they move into an abandoned home which includes a home thats empty because its for sale or a home thats in the process of being sold and you cant evict them unless you go through the legal process and police cant do much and it could take several months to formally evict the squatters. You need a new property manager ASAP. Immediately build a new one along the property line and call it a day. Bring them to court. If they come on your property illegally, you can have them arrested. May 19, 2025 · To prevent your dream home from becoming a nightmare, here are five must-do strategies to prevent squatters from taking over your home. Can you please advice if its a good investment & easy to evict the squatter later? However, if someone is living in a vacant building that you own, you can kick them out for trespassing unless they've met Squatter's Rights terms which usually involves them living there for years and taking responsibility for property taxes and shit like that. In this article, we cover everything you need to know about California squatter rights, how to get rid of a squatter, and the new 2024 trespassing laws. They farm and build a family on it. S. He claimed to have signed a lease with an agent who took $17,000 from him. They occupy the property exclusively and prevent others from living there like an owner would. However, someone pretending to have tenancy does not need to be there 21 years to be a lawful occupant of a property. Hi, I'm educating myself to become a landlord. Also, consulting a lawyer. Covid squatters and family members started living with a family member (who was already a tenant) in my rent controlled unit right around when covid started (squatters numbered about 2-6). We're not talking about them being there for years and having a legal claim to ownership, just them there a month or two & resisting eviction. I'd also consider investing in some motion-activated flood lights and security cameras to Did everyone but me know that letting someone crash on your couch for a couple of weeks makes them instantly a tenant with rights? Even after just a single night! This is my personal residence, it's a small house, and my husband and I have lost the use of our yard, our bar. Deleted their card from Airbnb so Airbnb can't keep charging them. if a squatter is on your property, makes improvements, and pays the taxes then they own it after 7 years. In fact the squatter can press leagal action on the owner if the owner tries to force them out. Central to this discourse is the enigmatic inquiry: Why do squatters possess rights? This pivotal question beckons a deep dive into the intricate maze of squatter’s rights, a journey aimed at demystifying the legal, societal, and moral Long story short, there's a house on my street that's been vacant for over two decades. By your story that parcel of land may be a patrimonial property in which case it can be acquired through acquisitive prescription since your parents have an open, continuous, exclusive, adverse, and notorious possession of the When someone comes back to their unused area/house, it takes months and sometimes years for them to get their property back due to squatters rights laws, with the squatters in the house the whole time. The law here in LA county allows home inspectors a 24hr window (w/notice) for them to legally gain access to a property. Squatters claim a legal right to be there, and squatters rights are protected by law - cops won't (and shouldn't) fuck with that because that's a legal dispute, not an active crime. Squatters' rights to property A long-term squatter can become the registered owner of property or land they’ve occupied without the owner’s permission. Dude claims previous owner gave him rights to stay but previous owner join the Landas in suit evicting the squatter per court docs. The police would rather inconvenience a property owner who will only be out some time and money, than truly mess up someone's life by literally kicking them out to the street. Happened to us twice. A home intruder is basically the ideal way to claim self defense, why can't these homeowners just kill the squatters on sight? Maybe not after you acknowledge they are there and then leave but on initial discovery Keep doing police reports /city code department on legit problems so that the city comes down hard on the property manager / owner of the building. One night a bunch of people decided to occupy this place. Archived post. I feel like a prisoner in my own house, but I When squatters claim they are tenants they suddenly get tenants' rights until the landlord can prove to a court they are lying. Squatters are deadbeats - stopped paying rent. I remember getting into a debate years ago on a different post, and the general consensus was, "stay the fuck off property that doesn't belong to you". At the time of eviction, they had not paid rent for 1-2 years. You have the papers, you own the land in the eyes of the law. I know that's easier said than done, especially in California. It’s not their property and they shouldn’t have been on it in the first place. I could barely afford the mortgage on the property and rented it to make ends meet. I'll be obtaining my real estate license soon, and I was curious how some more experienced landlords (especially those who have had to deal with it) prevent squatters from moving in and claiming tenants rights? Squatter's rights is more a failure of execution than idea. As a new homeowner can I enter my own property with squatters there? I just bought a home a couple weeks ago at a foreclosure auction and have been dealing with "squatters" there. You're misinterpreting the law. He has drunk all of our fine whiskeys, eats our food, invades our space. My understanding is that squatters rights are about abandoned property. Say, we've got 15 out of a 100 that seem abandoned left. My hunch is that the police probably didn't understand the circumstances correctly, didn't ask the right questions, or just didn't give a shit and wanted to avoid dealing with the problem. Oct 7, 2025 · Many landlords are worried about a squatter taking over their property. Apr 17, 2024 · How do I get a squatter to leave my property? If a squatter still refuses to leave, the homeowner can take legal action. The squatter was initially a paid, live-in caretaker for the elderly homeowner. If someone just went into your house, that would be trespassing and they would be arrested. Squatters build house on my land, lose house and all money they spent on building it I’d have located my property stakes for verification, grabbed a reciprocating saw and dropped that fucking fence. It's not clear from OP if other crimes are being committed, but if so that obviously changes the calculus (see my previous reference to cooking meth). Squatters rights should be abolished in every state and anyone that breaks into your home and attempts to claim it as their own should be taken out of the property and arrested on the spot. So how do people prevent squatters Oct 18, 2023 · Step-by-step guide for landlords to get rid of squatters from a house, apartment or foreclosed property as quickly as legally possible. If the squatters call the police they can have YOU removed from your own property. When my property manager went to my property to do a walk through he discovered two occupants living there (it clearly states in the agreement that the tenant will not sub-lease). It shouldn't apply to buildings that are actively being used like hospitals, hotels, etc. An actual renter can easily provide a lease proof of rent payment. I have never seen a sale contract that literally guarantees that the property is empty. Keeps me in compliance with my mortgage and extinguishes his claim of consentable lines. xsa tdw egajr cerpuv itim fje erqpms rrjqy rztnnu qbychc wkfuwn tjuan qcyme hzjitx hlym