Vacant rental homes can swiftly become a source of immense distress. When a tenant moves out and no new occupant is found there and then, these empty properties can attract unwanted attention. The empty spaces may resemble an inviting opportunity for trespassers and squatters going in search of shelter. Without ideal oversight, what was once a vibrant home can spiral into a forsaken shell, drawing in trouble and anxiety for landlords.
What is squatting?
Squatting means the unlawful occupation of an uninhabited building or unused land. Plainly, for homeowners, a squatter is someone who occupies your property without your permission. This situation can additionally include former tenants who reside 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 taxing to lease to new tenants. To efficiently prevent squatters, it is essential to secure your property. If you do not dwell near your rental home, look into 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 permit a squatter to linger 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 formidable and challenging.
Another potential issue transpires if a squatter manages to turn on utilities at the property in their name. In different areas, doing so can establish legal residency, though the squatter occupies your property without your permission. If this comes about, the police may classify the situation as civil rather than criminal.
If the police cannot assist you, the next part is to serve the unlawful occupant with an eviction notice. Just providing this notice can always encourage the squatter to move out voluntarily. Having said that, if they refuse to leave, you may need to file an unlawful detainer lawsuit, which will go through formal eviction proceedings.
The duration of this process can vary depending on the actual efficiency of the court system in your state, taking anywhere from two weeks to several months. Just in case or when you secure 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?
Supposing you have successfully evicted your squatters, you must quickly address any personal property they may have left behind. Whether they left freely or were strongly and forcefully removed, it’s natural for them to abandon some belongings.
The following steps are influenced by the laws in your area. In numerous states, you may dispose of these items without consequence. But, for sure, in other places, you will possibly be required to store their belongings in a storage unit at your own expense. If the squatters do not claim their property and refund 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 tedious and resource-intensive. To evade this, proactive management is essential. At Real Property Management Greater Madison Metro, we efficiently work on tenant move-outs and rapidly fill vacancies. An occupied rental property is both boomingly profitable and free from squatters. For more details related to our property management services in Verona, please contact us online or call 608-310-1290.
Originally Published on November 16, 2018
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