The Lies and Trickery Of Serial Squatters And How They Affect The Owner.

Summary

The article discusses the impact of serial squatters on property owners, including the legal challenges and stress involved in evicting them.

Abstract

The article titled "The Lies and Trickery Of Serial Squatters And How They Affect The Owner" delves into the phenomenon of squatters who unlawfully occupy properties, often for extended periods, and the difficulties property owners face in removing them. It highlights a case where a woman lived in a foreclosed home for years, establishing a life there despite having no legal claim. The piece underscores the psychological profile of squatters, suggesting some lack a conscience and disregard the rule of law. It also explains the rationale behind squatters' rights, which aim to prevent landowners from taking violent actions against squatters. The article advises property owners to secure signed contracts when renting to avoid squatting situations and outlines the legal process required to evict a squatter, including ceasing rent collection and filing an unlawful detainer lawsuit. The author, Jo Ann Harris, emphasizes the need for vigilance and proper legal procedures to protect property rights.

Opinions

Squatters are seen as individuals who exploit legal loopholes and lack a conscience, causing significant stress and financial burden to property owners.
The author implies that squatters can be manipulative, as they may pay a month's rent and move in with all their belongings to gain sympathy and avoid signing a lease.
There is a perception that squatters are psychotic and lack empathy for the distress they cause to property owners.
The article suggests that squatters' rights exist to prevent vigilante justice and maintain public safety, although this can lead to prolonged eviction processes.
The author emphasizes the importance of having a signed contract when renting to protect against potential squatters.
The legal system is criticized for being too lenient on squatters, making it difficult for owners to reclaim their property quickly.
The author advocates for a clear understanding of the law and proactive measures to prevent squatting, highlighting the necessity of legal action through an unlawful detainer lawsuit to evict squatters.

Scary people that won’t leave.

A squatter is a person who settles in or occupies a piece of property with no legal claim to the property. A squatter lives on a property to which they have no title, right, or lease. Source: Google

Squatters can lay claim to a property (usually abandoned, foreclosed, or otherwise unoccupied building) after living in it for a continuous period of time.

Example: A woman lived in a foreclosed, $1.5-million house for two years without a lease — even putting up holiday decorations and getting to know her neighbors. It took two more years to get her moved out.

Thank goodness I don’t know of any of these types of people, as far as, I know. People are being put in bad predicaments and have no choice, but there are exceptions to that rule.

I just saw a documentary about this and they do it on purpose. That’s how they live. Can you imagine the stress they put up with? But you actually have to have a conscience to think it is wrong.

“Is someone going to find out about me? What can they do anyway? The owner can’t change the locks. It’s against the law. They can’t throw me out so I’m staying.”

What a mindset!

I suppose these are people that don’t follow rules of any kind. They are psychotic and it doesn’t matter to them how they put people out.

Why are squatters protected?

Why Do Squatters Have Rights? The main goal of squatters’ rights is to discourage the use of vigilante justice. If landowners were allowed to use violence or the threat of violence to evict a squatter, the situation could quickly escalate and become dangerous.

If you want to rent a room to someone be sure you get a signed contract. Some of the squatters have shown up with all their belongings and paid the first month in full. The person they are renting from feels bad that the person went to the trouble of packing up everything and then they are turned down, so they go ahead and let them stay. But the squatter has not signed a lease or contract and will constantly dodge doing it. The owner then is stuck and there isn’t much they can do if they are undesirable.

They will stay and stay. Some have rearranged furniture and made other changes while there. The owner knows they are in trouble. Now, he/she goes to an attorney or the police to see what can be done. Squatting only becomes a felony if the owner establishes that the squatter is unwelcome on their property.

They have to evict the squatter but it will take time.

If you no longer want the tenant in your home, then you must stop accepting rent from them. In addition to not accepting rent, you must also file an unlawful detainer lawsuit. If the court rules in your favor, you’ll be issued a Writ of Restitution that will direct the sheriff to evict the tenant from your property. Source: https://floridapropertyrealty.com/squatters-rights-florida/

It will all take time to get them out once they are in.

Jo Ann Harris is an author, parent, book devotee, writer, copywriter, and film fanatic. She is an autodidact who learns about everything and rows her own boat. She grew up and worked in Atlanta, Georgia, and lived there for sixty years. She writes articles about love, hope, personal life stories, advice, and poems. She is a published author with an article in Woman’s World magazine in October 2017.