Vacant rental homes can abruptly become a source of huge distress. When a tenant moves out and no new occupant is found rapidly, these empty properties can attract unwanted attention. The empty spaces may strike as an inviting opportunity for trespassers and squatters watching out for shelter. Without correct oversight, what was once a vibrant home can spiral into a run-down forgotten shell, causing trouble and anxiety for landlords.
What is squatting?
Squatting signifies the unlawful occupation of an uninhabited building or unused land. Put bluntly, for homeowners, a squatter is someone who occupies your property without your permission. This situation can moreover envelop former tenants who stay 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 a headache to lease to new tenants. To effectively prevent squatters, it is integral to secure your property. If you do not have your home near your rental home, study about 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 neglect acting as a squatter stays, 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 toilsome.
Another potential issue transpires if a squatter manages to turn on utilities at the property in their name. In plenty of areas, doing so can establish legal residency, though the squatter occupies your property without your permission. If this actually occurs, the police may classify the situation as civil rather than criminal.
If the police cannot assist you, the following step is to serve the unlawful occupant with an eviction notice. Simply providing this notice can frequently encourage the squatter to move out voluntarily. And, if they refuse to leave, you may need to file an unlawful detainer lawsuit, which will start up formal eviction proceedings.
The duration of this process can vary depending on the competence of the court system in your state, taking anywhere from two weeks to several months. Just as soon as you get a judgment in your favor from the court, you can then properly enlist the local sheriff or police to remove the squatter on your behalf.
What to do with a squatter’s leftover property?
Just in case you have successfully evicted your squatters, you’ll be obliged to tackle any personal property they may have left behind. Whether they left intentionally or were forcefully removed, it’s typical for them to abandon some belongings.
The following steps rely on the laws in your area. In many states, you may dispose of these items without consequence. Anyhow, in other places, you would perhaps be required to store their belongings in a storage unit at your own expense. If the squatters do not claim their property and compensate you for the storage fees, you may have the right to auction off the items or dispose of them consistent with local regulations.
Handling squatters can be laborious and resource-intensive. To effectively prevent this, proactive management is essential. At Real Property Management Victory, we competently tackle tenant move-outs and immediately fill vacancies. An occupied rental property is both extensively profitable and free from squatters. For essential details concerning our property management services in Birmingham, please contact us online or call 205-793-0700.
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