An Atlanta homeowner faced a severe situation when he discovered an intruder squatting in his rental property. Upon arriving to make repairs, he was startled to find the suspect rifling through his belongings. While trespassing laws vary, squatting is illegal and can lead to complex eviction processes depending on state regulations. Proactive measures can be taken by landlords to deter squatters and protect their investments, especially as laws like Florida's increasingly allow direct police intervention to remove such individuals swiftly.
The suspect clearly made it his own property. He was clearly using amenities inside the residence, sleeping there, explained Juan Madiedo, an officer with the Gwinnett County Police Department.
While there are no federal laws in place, squatting is a form of trespassing, which is considered illegal. Each state has its own specific laws regarding squatters.
In Florida, Gov. Ron Desantis recently passed a squatting law that took things a step further, allowing law enforcement to remove squatters directly without a court order.
Interestingly enough, the squatting laws in Oregon allow people to claim adverse possession if they occupy a property openly, continuously, and exclusively for 10 years.
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