Dealing with Unwanted Squatters in Your Property
Investing in real estate can be lucrative, but it comes with its fair share of challenges. One unexpected and often frustrating issue that real estate investors may encounter is the presence of squatters on their property. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of handling squatters effectively, ensuring a smooth resolution to this problem.
Understanding Squatters and Their Tactics
Before taking any action, it’s essential to understand who squatters are and how they end up occupying your property without permission. Squatters are individuals who have no legal right to possess the property they occupy. They may have entered the property as trespassers or may have been misled by third parties who falsely claimed to lease the premises to them.
Investigating the Squatter Situation
When you discover an unexpected squatter on your property, your first step should be to gather information. You should ask the squatter two crucial questions:
- Why do you believe you have the right to be here?
- Who placed you in this property?
The answers to these questions will provide valuable insights. They will help you determine if the squatter unlawfully entered the property or if they have been victims of deception by fraudulent individuals who collected money from them under the guise of being landlords.
Legal Action – The Right Approach to Removing Squatters
In both scenarios, it’s generally advisable not to pursue eviction as if you were dealing with traditional tenants. Why? Because you are not their landlord, they do not pay rent to you, and there are no oral or written lease agreements that grant them any rights to possess the property.
Filing for Unlawful Detainer
Instead, the appropriate course of action is to file for unlawful detainer. This legal process allows you to regain possession of your property swiftly. Similar to eviction proceedings, squatters have a limited timeframe—typically just 5 days—to respond after being served with the complaint.
In the unlawful detainer process, your objective is to present your case to the court, demonstrating that your rights to possession are superior to those of the squatters.
Get Professional Assistance
Navigating the legal intricacies of dealing with squatters can be complex. Therefore, it’s highly advisable to seek professional legal assistance. At LCO Law LLC, our team specializes in real estate matters and can guide you through the process of removing squatters efficiently.
Contact Us for Expert Assistance
To learn more about how we can assist you in removing squatters and protecting your property, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Call us at 813-480-2106 to schedule an appointment or send an email to clientcare@lcolawfl.com.