Vacant rental homes can easily become a source of incredible distress. When a tenant moves out and no new occupant is found quickly, these empty properties can attract unwanted attention. The empty spaces may seem to be an inviting opportunity for trespassers and squatters on the lookout for shelter. Without suitable oversight, what was once a vibrant home can rapidly spiral into a neglected shell, creating great trouble and anxiety for landlords.
What is squatting?
Squatting pertains to the unlawful occupation of an uninhabited building or unused land. In layman’s terms, for homeowners, a squatter is someone who occupies your property without your permission. On top of that, this situation can also constitute former tenants who occupy the property without paying rent after their lease has expired or been terminated.
Unlawful occupants can negatively impact your rental property and make it complicated and difficult to lease to new tenants. To favorably prevent squatters, it is salient to secure your property. If you do not live near your rental home, think about hiring a property management company to monitor the property regularly and handle tenant turnover.
What to do at the first sign of a squatter?
If you notice a squatter on your property, you should immediately contact the police. The longer you allow a squatter to rest and stay, the harder it will be to evict them later. Courts may interpret your failure to act as a sign of consent, making the eviction process more complicated.
Another potential issue befalls if a squatter manages to turn on utilities at the property in their name. In several areas, doing so can establish legal residency, while it is true that the squatter occupies your property without your permission. If this truly happens, the police may classify the situation as civil rather than criminal.
If the police cannot assist you, the next stage is to serve the unlawful occupant with an eviction notice. Merely providing this notice can conventionally encourage the squatter to move out voluntarily. Even so, if they refuse to leave, you may need to file an unlawful detainer lawsuit, which will start formal eviction proceedings.
The duration of this process can vary depending on the effectiveness of the court system in your state, taking anywhere from two weeks to several months. If, as it happens, you win a judgment in your favor from the court, you can enlist the local sheriff or police to remove the squatter on your behalf.
What to do with a squatter’s leftover property?
If you have successfully evicted your squatters, you need to deal with any personal property they may have left behind. Whether they left consciously or were actually forcibly removed, it’s typical for them to abandon some belongings.
The following steps are based on the laws in your area. In innumerable states, you may dispose of these items without consequence. But, in fact, in other places, you will perhaps be required to store their belongings in a storage unit at your own expense. If the squatters do not claim their property and repay you for the storage fees, you may have the right to auction off the items or dispose of them per local regulations.
Handling squatters can be time-wasting and resource-intensive. To effectively hinder this from happening, proactive management is the essential key. At Real Property Management Hartford Metro/Greater New London, we expertly take charge of tenant move-outs and fill vacancies directly. An occupied rental property is both gainful and free from squatters. For more valuable details on our property management services in East Lyme, please contact us online or call 860-436-9955.
Originally Published on November 16, 2018
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