Vacant rental homes can straight away become a source of great distress. When a tenant moves out and no new occupant is found speedily, these empty properties can attract unwanted attention. The empty spaces may certainly be an inviting opportunity for trespassers and squatters trying to find shelter. Without fine oversight, what was once a vibrant home can very quickly spiral into an unrecognized shell, inducing trouble and anxiety for landlords.
What is squatting?
Squatting alludes to the unlawful occupation of an uninhabited building or unused land. In its simplest terms, for homeowners, a squatter is someone who occupies your property without your permission. In particular, this situation can furthermore include 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 tough to lease to new tenants. To beneficially prevent squatters, it is primal to secure your property. If you are not living near your rental home, ponder on 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 don’t do anything to a squatter who stays there, 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 laborious and longer.
Another potential issue emerges if a squatter manages to turn on utilities at the property in their name. In many areas, doing so can establish legal residency, despite the fact that the squatter occupies your property without your permission. If this happens, the police may classify the situation as civil rather than criminal.
If the police cannot assist you, the next step is to serve the unlawful occupant with an eviction notice. Just by simply providing this notice can usually encourage the squatter to move out voluntarily. Be that as it may, if they refuse to leave, you may need to file an unlawful detainer lawsuit, which will begin 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 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?
Assuming you have successfully evicted your squatters, you’ll need to work on any personal property they may have left behind. Whether they left without being asked or were removed with force, it’s normal for them to abandon some belongings.
The following steps largely depend on the laws in your area. In a lot of states, you may dispose of these items without consequence. With that said, in other places, you could be required to store their belongings in a storage unit at your own expense. If the squatters do not claim their property and reimburse you for the storage fees, you may have the right to auction off the items or dispose of them depending on local regulations.
Handling squatters can be arduous and resource-intensive. To avert this, proactive management is primarily key. At Real Property Management West San Fernando Valley, we beneficially act on tenant move-outs and quickly fill vacancies. An occupied rental property is both profitably winning and free from squatters. For more needed details with regards to our property management services in Canoga Park, please contact us online or call 818-727-0100.
Originally Published on November 16, 2018
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