Vacant rental homes can speedily become a source of considerable distress. When a tenant moves out and no new occupant is found immediately, these empty properties can attract unwanted attention. The empty spaces may look like an inviting opportunity for trespassers and squatters searching for shelter. Without appropriate oversight, what was once a vibrant home can spiral into a disregarded shell, drawing trouble and anxiety for landlords.
What is squatting?
Squatting relates to the unlawful occupation of an uninhabited building or unused land. Simply, for homeowners, a squatter is someone who occupies your property without your permission. In addition, this situation can count 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 difficult and tedious to lease to new tenants. To properly prevent squatters, it is vital to secure your property. If you do not reside near your rental home, think of 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 consent to a squatter to stay and settle, 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 exhausting.
Another potential issue develops if a squatter manages to turn on utilities at the property in their name. In various areas, doing so can establish legal residency, although the squatter occupies your property without your permission. If this takes place, the police may classify the situation as civil rather than criminal.
If the police cannot assist you, the next phase is to serve the unlawful occupant with an eviction notice. Simply providing this notice can mostly encourage the squatter to move out voluntarily. On the other hand, 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 effectiveness of the court system in your state, taking anywhere from two weeks to several months. In 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’ll have to address and fix any personal property they may have left behind. Whether they left willingly or were forcefully removed, it’s normal for them to abandon some belongings.
The following steps are dependent on the laws in your area. In many states, you may dispose of these items without consequence. But, in other places, perhaps you will be required to store their belongings in a storage unit at your own expense. If the squatters do not claim their property and repay you for the storage fees, you may have the right to auction off the items or dispose of them on the basis of and according to local regulations.
Handling squatters can be laborious and resource-intensive. To steer clear of this, proactive management is key. At Real Property Management Northern Arizona, we properly deal with tenant move-outs and fill vacancies as fast as possible. An occupied rental property is both fruitful and free from squatters. For more details with regards to our property management services in Valle Vista, please contact us online or call 928-757-7368.
Originally Published on November 16, 2018
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