These situations are even worse in place like NYC, for example.
In NC, if someone moves on to a piece of land, sets up house - even builds, and their occupation goes unchallenged for 17 years, the squatters can establish a clear title. - When I was much younger, such an idea seemed untenable, but 17 years no longer seems quite so much time, any longer. LOL.
That’s “adverse possession”, and usually you have to pay taxes on it for it to be a valid claim.
It’s also a good way to pick up a piece of property that ends up being a super fund site of similar cleanup cluster f...