the fact that entering a stranger's house and taking it is called squatting and not thievery is beyond me

I'm not a smart man but I thought breaking into someone's home was considered trespassing. You don't evict criminals. You arrest and punish them.

Squatters are just scumbags. The fact there is no way to get them out for a long time is pathetic.

The same thing almost happened to my grandmother's house after she passed away. A neighbor saw a minivan park at the driveway and when he saw a group of women bring out boxes, he immediately scared them away by threatening to shoot them because he knew that we still owned that house. The entire neighborhood kept watch of that house until we successfully sold it and the new owners moved in.

How come squatters are not charged with breaking an entry

Illegally moves in Needs to be legally evicted. Squatter law needs to be gone.

Poor girl, thanks to the neighbor who called her and let her know what was going on at her property. I can't think how much stress it could be trying to evicted the squatters !!

This needs to be classified as felony breaking and entering. And if the owner is on the property and the squatters come in despite warning, force should be authorized just as with a home invasion. For this issue to truly be resolved, squatters must face devastating consequences…

Go break into alot of these famous people summer homes and politician's homes as well as judges homes . See how long this law would still be in effect.

UNBELIEVABLE!!! The audacity of people is unreal these days. And the fact that "legally" they may have gotten away with it is even MORE troubling. WE MUST CHANGE THIS SYSTEM!

These squatters laws need to change. It’s legal theft of a house. By the time you evict them they have destroyed your property.

We could do away with this travesty by taking away “squatters’ rights” all together! Why it’s even legal today baffles me!

This is the most stupidest law ever to be put into place.

My dad had a similar situation in one of his properties. Sadly the couple died in a horrible crash caused by brake failure

These laws are insane! Criminals will get arrested for robbery and or burglary - How is this any different? These poor families can wind up losing their homes. There needs to be a movement to get these unfair laws changed.

We need a law that makes squatting a crime. The people who do these things have no damned shame whatsoever 🤦‍♀️

Imagine breaking in to someone’s home, changing the locks and it not being a crime!

All these agreements need to filed at the county office or city hall. If the paperwork is not at those offices then the squatter is immediately removed from the home.

I helped a friend get rid of her squatters. 15 of us with my 3 German shepherds in the middle of the night. Of course no neighbors called the cops, we gave them a hint ahead of time. We dumped their stuff in a dumpster we had delivered that day. We "convinced" them if they came back to the neighborhood, they would be met with more dogs and more people. Acting as a vigilante is the only way to deal with squatters until the laws change.

California law, embarrassing the FK out of me daily🤬. How utterly stupid….protecting criminals’ rights seems to be the norm now.

We had a squatter in our home when we transferred to the west coast. We rented our home instead of selling it because we wanted to move back into it when our tour was completed. During the time between us moving out and tenants moving in, a squatter broke in and decided to live there. We didn't call the cops, we didn't call the news, we called a friend (6'5 and 245 pounds, a BIG guy) and he went over with a baseball bat and his side arm attached to his belt. The squatter left withing seconds of Matt walking in to the house. No fuss, no mess.

Why isn't this considered burglary?

How in the living hell can this happen? There absolutely has to be some immediate legal recourse for a homeowner to stop squatters from moving into their home. What kind of law protects the criminal? This is why California is in so much trouble.

I know someone who ALMOST got away with squatting in my house. I let a lady with 4 kids stay with me for 60 days to save enough for a downpayment/deposit for her own place. I was fed up after 20 days of seeing her spend money on alcohol and other non-essentials. Being a person of my word, I let her stay the promised 60 days...when the +60 days came around, I told her it was time to move. Her reply was, "Put me out; you have to evict me!" OMG! What a nightmare! I put her and her children's belongings on the curb with incident -- she cried and pleaded with my neighbors, who already knew what was happening. She got most of her belongings the same day. A week later, 3 of my tires were slashed. So be it. This was in the 90's. I'd rather pay 200 for some new tires than a migraine + court costs to evict her. BTW, she knew she was wrong. That's why she didn't take me to court for wrongful eviction.

Never understood why squatters have more rights then home owners. That needs to be changed. She should get camera put up outside and all inside of the house.

That’s California for you. The squatters need to move into some of the politicians multiple vacation homes. Then things will change.

10 years later and almost nothing has changed. Unbelievable.

Not only kicked out but taken to jail for 6 months, fined $50,000.

When law breakers have more 'rights', it's time to change the law

What a stupid statement “sometimes we can’t determine who’s in the right” it seems pretty easy to me ask the owner!!! I think some laws need to be changed to protect the owners not the squatters!!!

This is absolutely insane.

They should be in prison for attempted theft of property

This is absolutely pathetic… These people need to be arrested and put in jail for breaking and entering a private home… Mind boggling laws on the books need to be changed

I went through this once in my life as I'm a real estate developer. I simply put into service an ADT Home Security Alarm System with a working telephone line to the property. Once these Squatters trip the alarm ADT will call the home and ask for the Security Password and since they won't know the password the Police are dispatched to the home and you are also immediately notified. Meaning that anyone caught in that home even with a made up lease are automatically arrested for burglary. End of my squatters problem...👌

With the dollar amounts being stolen this should be a major felony resulting in jail time.

Good neighbors are a blessing .❤❤❤

If that happened to my house, no law in the world would protect the criminals from me.

police can't do nothing about breaking and entering occupying a dwelling refusing a direct order but if I don't pay a speeding ticket 120 days in jail or $500 come on

So if people decided to "squat" in a millionaire/billionaire home is it still considered squatting or criminal trespassing.

Someone here in NC faked a rental agreement and it took months to get them out. They pooped concrete down there toilet and destroyed the house.

Squatters tried to move into one of my aunts rental. Little did the squatters know that they messed with the wrong family. There is nothing like 20+ angry people busting down a door and bum rush the squatters. Let’s just say the squatters were handled in a way they will never forget. ;)

Good neighbors are priceless

The average law-abiding citizen doesn't stand a chance today.

There should be a law that REQUIRES the owner AND tenant to REGISTER FREE their lease or who's renting the property where law enforcement can access. Both parties should be given 5 business days to REGISTER the lease. If they don't, then they will be penalized with a fine (so what it's inconvenient). This could potentially prevent homeowners from having to go to court to evict squatters. Let the burden be on the squatter instead of the homeowner.

What a joke. The cops can’t “determine” whose property it is? L

Dealt with that years ago. My brother was in hospital... these junkies climbed through a cat door! Then had the nerve to tell me I had to give them a 30 day notice. LOL nope they got a dose of bear spray ... Buh bye....

She is very lucky to have good neighbours. It can be worth moving in when it's vacant to stop anyone coming in or get a relative, friend or house sitter to move in.

One word describes this problem………California.

“Very hard to move them out...” A 12 guage moves people pretty quick

A squatter manipulated his way into my condo with the help of a disgraceful neighbor. He was a dealer. Put it this way, he was bodily thrown out and not permitted to come back for his belongings. He called the police. They laughed when they showed up. The squatter apparently wasn't happy with his boo-boo's from getting tossed. They removed his 'stuff' from the condo and then I trashed everything else. He wasn't allowed to touch it because it was on my property. These are my laws. He's lucky it wasn't worse.

In many states, entering a house with intent to take possession of that property without contract or payment is called "Burglary in the second degree" Not trespassing. Burg 2 is a felony.

They should make all leases have to be signed in front of a notary so they can't fake them.

It is amazing, you buy a home and don't pay your Property Taxes, the county comes with the Sheriff and YOU LOSE YOUR HOME. You squat a vacant house someone else paid for, YOU GET TO STAY and the cops can't do anything. How much longer before the chaos stops?

This law doesnt make any sense...because the squatters are breaking and entering/tresspassing to begin with

And then you try and kick them out and the court tells you they actually have rights and you can't throw them out until an investigation is conducted.

My sister had me stay at her vacant house to keep potential squatters from moving in. There was some evidence of break-ins, and thefts, but we also thought that was from a hostile neighbor. My sister had another house that had been vacant for a long time, but the neighbors were vigilant. She had stay there while it went up for sale

I still can't get over the fact that people can just move into a house that isn't theirs in anyway & can't be kicked out

How is this not breaking and entering and illegal criminal tresspass? And then they can squat without the cops removing them? Say what?

I was living in USA and did a quick trip back home just to find out that someone had plans to move in to my appartment. I disconnected their appliances and put them out of my property. I found a locksmith and welder and make them seal the metal door to its frame so noone could enter it. I wonder if what I did is legal in U S A.

Good neighbors are priceless.

I had a vacant house, and filed a Letter of Agency with the cops. This is an official notice to them that anyone not the owner is tresspassing. You have to cancel it yourself. A rental agreement would be automatically false in this case.

She should put an alarm in house-that would solve the issue...police would show up when they tried to move in.

Imagine a government putting a system in place to allow this despite nearly ZERO percent of citizens being in favor of it. I don't know whether their corruption or stupidity is greater.

It's crazy that someone can take another person's home.

If they illegally enter how do they have any rights!!?????

smart lady. this is when having nosy neighbors come in handy

This just points to disgrace in our country and lawlessness. The corruption with our politicians and legislators is way beyond me to comprehend.

There is something very wrong with the law protecting these criminals.

So the sheriffs department can’t evict these squatters right away but they kick you out if you miss payments on your house.

I threw out the possessions of a squatter, knowing she could take me to court, changed the locks, and stayed in the place until she was gone. I guessed, correctly, that she wouldn't go so far as to file a suit as she had no leg to stand on. Sometimes you've just gotta do what's right.

I own several properties, and I regularly check when they are vacant, I also carry to show them the door

How can you legally evict someone from a residence where they are illegaly living in? How can they not be legally arrested/procecuted for breaking and entering? What is all this crazyness?

One of my parents’ friends sold their house and moved out. While waiting for it to close, they had me and one of their kids (we were 19) live there for two weeks. Now I understand why.

Makes sense. They mastered the welfare system and now are broadening their horizons with squatting in homes.

if a squatter breaks into a home and changes the lock can't another "squatter" do the same and claim the house?

how did they get in the first place? if things weren't locked wouldn't they have to break in?

Change the law!!! We've been hearing about this for years..happening. If it was my property I would break in. But it would end badly.

Isn't that trespassing? Here in Texas that can get you shot.

Squatting is stealing a possession (home) worth typically hundreds of thousands of dollars. This should be a felony.

If a person gets pulled over and the car was considered stolen. The person driving is getting arrested if it’s not their vehicle no matter what paperwork they have. Why is it different for a house?

One person got rid of his squatters by hiring a big strong man to move in with the squatters, This strong man ,just opened the door and sat down on the sofa and said that he was moving in. The squatters moved out.

This is straight bullsh*t😯!!!! So the law basically supports people like this? FRUSTRATED!! 😟😡

You put in a ring doorbell and security cameras.

The justice system has not allowed it to be "a simple" task of moving anyone out regardless if they violate their lease or just moved in without a lease (aka "squatter").

I mean seriously, they can't make law to prevent compolete strangers from moving into your home sometimes you wonder at the absence of common sense

Absolute INSANITY!! THIS country is inside out and upside down!!

This happened when my uncle died. His ex wife moved into his apartment claiming she was living with him (she wasn't) and refused to leave. My cousins said it took forever for her to leave.

HOW IN THE WORLD, CAN THIS EVEN BE LEGAL?!?!?!?

Why would you call the Police?? I would call a few friends and gear up.

If the house is vacant then install cameras inside and out that record and immediately alert your cell phone if there is motion so you can call the police if you see squatters trying to break in. If you are renting the property then the cost of those cameras might be deductible as a business expense (ask your accountant).

There is no logic here. Am I that old to understand this? So, those thugs broke her locks and move in, isn't this home invasion? Looks like homeowners need to set up Claymores behind their doors now.

I could literally never imagine just popping up to a vacant house and start moving my things in. This whole squatter thing is insane to me, and the fact they have any rights at all is even worse.

When they prove someone like that has attempted fraud, they should be in a database that makes it impossible for them to do it again. And, if they want a free place to live, toss them into prison!

No law and order .Neighbors should call police and arrest them and deport.

Bolder and bolder these squatters ! Why not, the Ridiculous laws are on their side !!!

This is a perfect example of why some matters need to be taken care of with force.

The fact that this is even accepted in America shows how far the Justice system has fallen the audacity of people to think they can just move into someone's house is ridiculous

Florida now has a new anti-squatters law. If a squatter takes over your house, just fill a form for the Sheriff's office and they'll kick them out right away.

At this point to ensure real documents all rentals or sales should have a city seal and a verified clerks to sign papers.

Absolutely horrendous! It is beyond unconscionable that a property owner has less rights than blatant thieves. It should take all of 5 minutes to kick a trespasser off of your property.