Vacant rental homes can directly become a source of major distress. When a tenant moves out and no new occupant is found hastily, these empty properties can attract unwanted attention. The empty spaces may be like an inviting opportunity for trespassers and squatters looking always for shelter. Without proper oversight, what was once a vibrant home can spiral into a run-down forgotten shell, causing trouble and anxiety for landlords.
What is squatting?
Squatting denotes the unlawful occupation of an uninhabited building or unused land. In simple words, for homeowners, a squatter is someone who occupies your property without your permission. This situation can further comprise former tenants who linger and stay on the property without paying rent after their lease has expired or been terminated.
Unlawful occupants can negatively impact your rental property and make it laborious to lease to new tenants. To effortlessly prevent squatters, it is critical to secure your property. If you do not have your home near your rental home, take into account 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 do nothing with a squatter who occupies your place, 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 tedious.
Another potential issue comes to light if a squatter manages to turn on utilities at the property in their name. In particular areas, doing so can establish legal residency, while the squatter occupies your property without your permission. If this transpires, the police may classify the situation as civil rather than criminal.
If the police cannot assist you, the succeeding move is to serve the unlawful occupant with an eviction notice. Just simply providing this notice can customarily encourage the squatter to move out voluntarily. That being said, if they refuse to leave, you may need to file an unlawful detainer lawsuit, which will then start formal eviction proceedings.
The duration of this process can vary depending on the efficacy of the court system in your state, taking anywhere from two weeks to several months. When you win a judgment in your favor from the court, you can swiftly enlist the local sheriff or police to remove the squatter on your behalf.
What to do with a squatter’s leftover property?
Once you have successfully evicted your squatters, you’ll need to handle any personal property they may have left behind. Whether they left unprompted or were removed under compulsion, it’s typical for them to abandon some belongings.
The following steps are contingent on the laws in your area. In a few states, you may dispose of these items without consequence. But, in actuality, in other places, you would most certainly be required to store their belongings in a storage unit at your own expense. If the squatters do not claim their property and pay you for the storage fees, you may have the right to auction off the items or dispose of them based on local regulations.
Handling squatters can be hard and resource-intensive. To protect you from this, proactive management is vital. At Real Property Management Cairn, we advantageously manage tenant move-outs and promptly fill vacancies. An occupied rental property is both beneficially profitable and free from squatters. For more valuable details concerning our property management services in Bedford County, please contact us online or call 434-215-3028.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
