Vacant rental homes can right away become a source of big disappointment and much distress. When a tenant moves out and no new occupant is found quickly, these empty properties can attract unwanted attention. The empty spaces may have all the signs of an inviting opportunity for trespassers and squatters looking out for shelter. Without correct oversight, what was once a vibrant home can hastily spiral into an untended shell, bringing on trouble and anxiety for landlords.
What is squatting?
Squatting describes the unlawful occupation of an uninhabited building or unused land. Simply stated, for homeowners, a squatter is someone who occupies your property without your permission. This situation can, on top of everything else, also mean former tenants who live 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 hard to lease to new tenants. To productively prevent squatters, it is important to secure your property. If you do not really live near your rental home, mull over 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 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 wearisome and complicated.
Another potential issue transpires if a squatter manages to turn on utilities at the property in their name. In certain areas, doing so can establish legal residency, even while the squatter occupies your property without your permission. If this situation emerges, the police may classify the situation as civil rather than criminal.
If the police cannot assist you, the next procedure is to serve the unlawful occupant with an eviction notice. Plainly providing this notice can, most often, encourage the squatter to move out voluntarily. Still, if they refuse to leave, you may need to file an unlawful detainer lawsuit, which will set about formal eviction proceedings.
The duration of this process can vary depending on the adequacy and efficacy of the court system in your state, taking anywhere from two weeks to several months. If, in any case, you get 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 should properly address any personal property they may have left behind. Whether they left willfully or were forcibly removed, it’s understandable for them to abandon some belongings.
The following steps count on the laws in your area. In countless states, you may dispose of these items without consequence. But, as a matter of fact, in other places, you will most likely be required to store their belongings in a storage unit at your own expense. If the squatters do not claim their property and settle up with you for the storage fees, you may have the right to auction off the items or dispose of them according to local regulations.
Handling squatters can take considerable time and resource-intensive. To avoid this, proactive management is the primary key. At Real Property Management Metro, we productively work on tenant move-outs and fill vacancies instantaneously. An occupied rental property is both financially rewarding and free from squatters. For more pertinent details as regards our property management services in Baltimore, please contact us online or call 410-290-3285.
Originally Published on November 16, 2018
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