Foreclosure & Squatting
Vacant homes going through foreclosure provide the perfect opportunity for squatters to have a place to live without paying for it. These homes can go weeks without being supervised by the homeowner or lender. Neighbors frequently do not know if or not a man is supposed to maintain the residence. Even though the squatter is trespassing, calling the police may not immediately remove him due to legal technicalities. Legal eviction could be your only course of action to remove a squatter in a foreclosed house.
Expert Squatters
There are varying levels of squatting. Sometimes a homeless individual moves to a property as a temporary method to escape the elements. No other belongings are moved to the utilities and property are not activated. A professional squatter moves from property to property. He instantly turns about the utilities in his own name and moves in furniture, making it seem he goes to the property. Often fraudulent documents are produced like a lease or deed to the property to provide validity to the squatter’s job.
Authorities Intervention
Authorities may remove a squatter if it is apparent she doesn’t belong there. Now you run into trouble with the expert squatter who turns on outfits and utilities the property as a house, however. When the homeowner calls the police to deal with the issue, the squatter produces documentation which she belongs in the property. Now, the police can’t intervene since they can’t distinguish the validity of one claim over the other. You have to use different means to take out the squatter in the property.
Pay to Catch
Some squatters objective properties where the managing company or lender has a history of paying squatters to depart. You may offer the squatter money to vacate the property to avoid eviction. You may run into a problem if the squatter takes your money and still refuses to leave the property.
Eviction
Eviction is the only foolproof way of removing a squatter. You serve a three-day note to vacate the property. When the squatter neglects to comply with your request, then you serve an unlawful detainer lawsuit on each individual in the property. The courtroom clerk schedules a hearing approximately 21 days after. At that time, the judge rules in your eviction lawsuit. The squatters get five days to vacate the property before the sheriff changes the locks.
Considerations
Taking steps to avoid squatters is the best means to avoid dealing with them. Inform neighbors or even a neighborhood watch group when a property will be vacant. Be careful of posting “For Rent” or “For Sale” signs on the property without frequently checking about the property. Be sure to properly secure the property by updating the locks, using fencing, adding drapes and locking all of the windows.