Vacant rental homes can immediately become a source of great distress. When a tenant moves out and no new occupant is found right away, these empty properties can attract unwanted attention. The empty spaces may be the same as an inviting opportunity for trespassers and squatters in quest of shelter. Without the right oversight, what was once a vibrant home can spiral into a neglected run-down shell, magnetizing trouble and anxiety for landlords.
What is squatting?
Squatting talks about the unlawful occupation of an uninhabited building or unused land. Put differently, for homeowners, a squatter is someone who occupies your property without your permission. This situation can additionally involve former tenants who abide 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 wearisome to lease to new tenants. To successfully prevent squatters, it is imperative to secure your property. If you do not maintain your residence near your rental home, choose to hire 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 assent a squatter to remain, 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 grueling.
Another potential issue pops up if a squatter manages to turn on utilities at the property in their name. In particular areas, doing so can establish legal residency, though conceding the squatter occupies your property without your permission. If this transpires, the police may quickly classify the situation as civil rather than criminal.
If the police cannot assist you, the next proper action is to serve the unlawful occupant with an eviction notice. Merely providing this notice can customarily encourage the squatter to move out voluntarily. Anyhow, if they refuse to leave, you may need to file an unlawful detainer lawsuit, which will start formal eviction proceedings.
How long this process will be can vary depending on the effectiveness of the court system in your state, taking anywhere from two weeks to several months. Just in case you secure a judgment in your favor from the court, you can swiftly enlist the local sheriff or police to remove the squatter on your behalf.
What to do with a squatter’s leftover property?
Supposing you have successfully evicted your squatters, you must then quickly address any personal property they may have left behind. Whether they left gladly or were coercively removed, it’s customary for them to abandon some belongings.
The following steps are relative to the laws in your area. In various states, you may dispose of these items without consequence. Except, in other places, you will most probably be required to store their belongings in a storage unit at your own expense. If the squatters do not claim their property and cover you for the storage fees, you may have the right to auction off the items or dispose of them according to local regulations.
Handling squatters can be lengthy and resource-intensive. To ward this off, proactive management is the vital key. At Real Property Management NW Chicago Suburbs, we prudently settle tenant move-outs and swiftly fill vacancies. An occupied rental property is both lucrative and free from squatters. For more essential details related to our property management services in Arlington Heights, please contact us online or call 847-737-4800.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
