What is a Squatter

Squatters are people who will settle in an unoccupied house or land without permission of the owner. They will jump from one house to the next, mostly foreclosed homes. Squatters also have rights, if a squatter is living in an unoccupied house for a certain period of time (depending on the state laws) they can claim ownership of the house. This is called adverse possession, and as explained in www.legal-database.com you can lose your property if you do not take action in having the squatter removed.

There is also a website that will give anyone information on how to become a successful squatter, www.squat.net. The website offers many different ways to not be evicted from the home the squatter or squatters have invaded. They believe that if your house is not being used they should have the right to live in it, as there are many people without homes. If you have a foreclosed house they will target it, they will make sure that no one ever comes around and move in and clean up the place so it actually looks like they own or rent. If you have a home for sale they can do the same, unless you notice it right away you can have the police come. But if they have been there for a week or more it will be very difficult to get them out.

Not only can a squatter take over your home but they can keep possession of land as well. A couple in Pennsylvania had bought land to invest in but never actually sold it or built a house, so they paid the taxes but never did anything with it. Their neighbor knew they never checked on the land and after years of not doing anything with the land the neighbor claimed it to keep the title. You can read about this story at www.standardspeaker.com.

How to keep a squatter out of your vacant house or land can be quite easy, just try and remember these steps:

Keep your property secure, put locks on any gates and lock the windows and doors tight so no one can get in easily, you might want to put an alarm as well so it will scare them off if they try.

If you can, visit the property often, or have a neighbor check on it and alert you if they see anything suspicious.

Make the place look occupied, put some curtains up and even have a light that turns on when it senses someone so it will look like someone live there.

You can also try and rent the place so that it isn't unoccupied and you can make some extra cash while doing it as well.

Knowing your home can be taken from you by a stranger is something none of us want to experience which is why you must take precautions and know what the law is if you do have a home that is vacant, foreclosed or for sale. The process for actually having a squatter removed is to go to court and show proof that the home is yours and that the people living there have no permission to be there. The police doesn't have the right to remove a squatter from the home, which is why you need to go to court for this matter.