A new bill would make squatting a felony. I like the part about allowing the landlord to use "FORCE". Landlords would be allowed to enter the house and remove the squatter and their belongings. Looks like there could be some new cases of kicking @ss and taking names!
While I hate to admit breaking any law, an unlawful eviction is a $100 fine plus costs, cheaper than an eviction if you use an attorney. Years ago I caught a guy in a house and chased him off tossing his bag out the door. If they can't afford a motel room, they can't afford an attorney and the local legal aid office has limited resources with much bigger fish to fry. The guy knew where he could go for shelter but just decided my place was a little nicer.
I'd be all for the use of force, just as with any breaking and entering, after all, that's what it usually is.
Now, a guest holdover from a tenant, a roommate of a tenant is different in my opinion, they didn't break in.
While I hate to admit breaking any law, an unlawful eviction is a $100 fine plus costs, cheaper than an eviction if you use an attorney. Years ago I caught a guy in a house and chased him off tossing his bag out the door. If they can't afford a motel room, they can't afford an attorney and the local legal aid office has limited resources with much bigger fish to fry. The guy knew where he could go for shelter but just decided my place was a little nicer.
I'd be all for the use of force, just as with any breaking and entering, after all, that's what it usually is.
Now, a guest holdover from a tenant, a roommate of a tenant is different in my opinion, they didn't break in.
@Rob K. , LOL, I read "New proposed law to curb squatting" much differently than what it meant! I read the title and was expecting to read about a new way for people to sit on your curb long enough and be able to claim rights to your property!
@Troy Sheets I'm sure that's not far off. I am currently battling with someone living in a utility-less shed!
You have to tell this story!!! How'd they get there? How can they possibly stay? Why can't you simply put a padlock on it (or demo it?!) when they're away?
Ok, so I purchased just under 6 acres that was about to be lost by the owners to back taxes. The property has a couple old sheds on it. I closed on the property on Friday and visited the property Saturday morning. I walked into a hole/crawlspace/??? under one of these sheds because the shed was boarded up. I heard a TV on above my head inside the shed!
I came out and banged on the door and the guy wouldn't come outside. He claimed he couldn't open the door because they were busted and he was "fixin' to put new ones up." Anyway, he claimed totally ignorant to the fact that the property was for sale (regardless of the fact I had been there three times and there was a sign up for a year!) and then he began to tell me he is a realtor for PA and owns several properties there yadda yadda.
I told him I am getting an officer and he will be served and must leave. He asked for my phone number so his attorney could call me and I MISTAKENLY gave it to him. Now I receive phone calls every hour with him spouting out claims that the property is his and he doesn't believe I bought it and no one had the right to sell it out from under him. Once he decided to insult me by calling me a punk I told him if he contacts me again I will file harassment charges.
Come to find out, this guy is the son of the man who lives next door. The man who lives next door was 1 of 4 heirs to this property years ago. The man next door was 1 of 4 people who received a check when I purchased this property. The man next door is also the person who is supplying this shed with electricity via an extension cord.
So now here I sit waiting for my court date for an ejectment since we were never in a landlord/tenant situation. Still waiting on a call from his attorney as well. LOL!
I thought so too, but the cop told me to just go through with the eviction process because this guy is one of "those" people. I would imagine if he is on a first name basis with a cop then I am not dealing with someone who will go easily.
what about contacting the closing attorney? Or if this was an estate, as I assume, the attorney that handled the probate?
I'd assume that for selling 1/4 of the property, the neighbor had to sign that he's giving up all rights to the property. And here he's encouraging his son to squat.
I would think one of the attorneys in the sale would want to know about this
I would love to demo it but I would have to sit around and wait until I'm sure hes out. Also if I demo it and he claims he had a box full or rolex's in there what can of worms would that open?
My realtor is looking into it. Because the man next door gave up his position on title there are some discrepancies. I think I will just go through the process. I am almost finished renovating my first rental, so at least this way I will know the process so it doesn't take me extra time when dealing with an actual tenant.
@Charlie Hampton No problem. That's an interesting story. Too bad you couldn't run a ratchet strap around the shed to hold him in, rent a forklift and flatbed, load him and the shed on it, then drop the whole package off in the war zone or a park.
Check out some other threads about squatters. My favorite suggestion is to hire other squatters to move in with him and make his life miserable.
We took over a duplex where the inherited Sect 8 female tenant was renting the garage to an old man. Similar extension cord but no running water etc etc.
We simply removed the doors & windows & shut down the power to his extension cord.
He left & she bailed soon after when she lost her Sect. 8 'free ride'.
I am no longer amazed at the deplorable conditions people choose to live in.
My friend worked at a self storage place. They were having a problem with bums renting a storage unit and living there. They would get a $10 per month membership at Planet Fitness so they had a place to poop/shower. Some people don't mind roughing it.
we were over a friends place today as skunks got in under the shed for the winter. You couldn't spend 5 minutes in there without gagging, now catching a couple of them & relocating under the shed would be a fun experience for you.
Another great under the shed odor would be rotting fish or liquid pig manure :)
Isnt it amazing that the lack of heat/water/sewer doesn't phase someone, but the tv being cut off will force someone out? I don't understand people and their priorities.
Sheds are not legal dwellings to live in. Can't you just have him arrested for trespassing? He never had a lease or any other right to be there. Tell the cops he broke in.
Can he say in court that he does not live in the dwelling at that particular address and thus can't get evicted? I know it's just symantics, but sometimes that's how things work in court
we were over a friends place today as skunks got in under the shed for the winter. You couldn't spend 5 minutes in there without gagging, now catching a couple of them & relocating under the shed would be a fun experience for you.
Another great under the shed odor would be rotting fish or liquid pig manure :)
I bet you could get a small tanker-load of that piped delivered under the shed to fertilize the area in prep for the spring!!!
Well I talked to someone at the construction office and the man providing him with electricity will be receiving a $2000 fine for doing so. I don't foresee this guy sticking around for very long with no electricity.
Did your contract to purchase say the property was to be conveyed to you vacant? You might look back at your contract. You could "lean" on the sellers for "assistance".
Also - No Way I would call code enforcement to remove someone. They would likely site you as the property owner and require you to correct the situation. Sounds like you have already done that and found some relief. Hope it turns out well.
Go pick up a crappy car or truck that runs , cut off the muffler , fill the tank 1/2 way with gasoline , a, park it near the building , let it run 1/2 throttle , the noise will get him out after a while .
You could also set up loudspeakers outside of the shed and blast Wesley Willis music as loud as it will go. After about 20 minutes, the guy will probably kill himself.