Posted on 05/08/2025 12:25:19 PM PDT by nickcarraway
OK that reminds me of me in my younger days...
Well, that varies by state. But I am not sure any state allows it, if they are established as squatters.
First mistake is to call the police. When you find them, you remove them and don’t give them time to make a squatters claim.
Where do you go to show yourself as an “official squatter,” especially when you have no deed in your name?
It’s become easier these days. All they have to do is create a lease document, or mortgage. It doesn’t matter if it’s fake, if the police see it, they say it’s now in the courts’ hands. Before, someone had to establish 15 or 30 days of residence. Now they can become established immediately though fake documents.
If they are dead before the police show up, you are home free.
“I think I read it was once part of old English law, because if a property was abandoned, it was better to have someone live there, and the property be productive. I’m not sure that translates well into the modern world.”
It’s called adverse possession. In my state at least, it requires “open and notorious” occupation of the property for ten years (i.e., the squatters aren’t trying to hide that they’re there) without the property owner doing anything to try to remove them. Because if a property owner doesn’t check on his property at least once a decade... the occupants are making better use of it. They still have to win a lawsuit though before they actually legally own it.
It’s hardly the same thing as random people forging a deed or overstaying an Air B&B rental while the owner tries to get them out.
If it’s abandoned and nobody can find the owner and there’s no next of kin, then something should be done.
I hate to say the state come in and deal with it, but I don’t know any other way of figuring out what to do with it.
But a house empty because someone is on vacation or selling it, that’s a whole different animal.
These fraudulent *leases* or *mortgages* need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
In NH it requires 20 years open residency, maintaining the property, paying the taxes and bills as if the legal owner, all unchallenged.
That may be due to the high number of gorgeous summer homes that MA-holes own up in the White Mountains.
The owner needed to invite family, friends, enemies (would have paid the money to them) and more to move in for as long as possible. Even tear down the squatters bedroom door and put sleeping bags for all the people just make it so uncomfortable for the squatters. The squatters screaming their heads off at the intrusion as long as you don’t do them bodily harm.
“He says his Realtor came by with a potential buyer, but there were already people inside.”
Jay Leno tells of sleeping in alleys behind the comedy clubs when he first started. When he went to California he would go to open houses late in the day. Say thanks to the realtor, go to the front door and open and close it. Then hide in the closet until they had left for the night. Then sleep in the house.
One time a realtor caught him in the morning just as he was leaving the house! “Oops - sorry- bye!”
Turn off power and water.
Place open baggies of raw fish in the air vents where no one can see it and wait for the rotting smell to commence.
Invite big manners-free friends to come over and do their thing.
I'm sure Freepers have additional suggestions for a situation like this.
Squatters are the same as illegal aliens.
They’ve broken in, and taken possession of things/property they do not own.
That would definitely be considered constructive eviction.
“He says police told them that under Illinois’ current law, they could not remove anyone.”
Repeat after me:
Gee, officer. How was I supposed to know that motorcycle gang would come along and physically evict the squatters?
That’s kind of the point.
That was a great skit
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