Quote:
Originally Posted by Velvet
I can’t quite see the difference between a squatter and a burglar, so the burglar decided to stay… how can that be defined as a tenant? Illegal entry is burglary or home invasion. You come home from the store, or a vacation and as you enter there is a stranger in your house. Who you shoot. How is that not self defense?
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Some squatters were there legally. At first. Happened to someone I know here. An owner came down with a "friend" who was renting the guest bedroom. Except the friend never paid the rent, and took her golf cart and car out whenever she wanted, and decided she wasn't going to vacate when they had originally agreed. She started becoming aggressive, kicking the owner's dogs, and such. She had a key, because the owner GAVE her a key. But then the tenant changed their legal address to the owner's address, which gave credibility that she was authorized to live there and take permanent possession of the house.
Thankfully that person decided to victimize a nicer house somewhere else in the community, and moved out on their own.
But now - that person is absolutely someone else's problem. And is still pulling this stunt in The Villages. Just in a designer home instead of a double-wide.
Squatters can be invited and welcome tenants. Until they stop paying the rent, and refuse to move out. Then, they are in possession of the keys, they have the right to be there, until you go through the eviction process. Which can take months.
Hiring a "professional squatter hunter" sounds like a pretty good idea to me.