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Question for attorneys or other knowledgeable people regarding squatters

Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:34 pm
Posted by Robin Masters
Birmingham
Member since Jul 2010
29717 posts
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:34 pm
Could you avoid squatters taking over your place by having a valid tenant agreement in place with someone?

Point being that the law seems to make someone who squats a tenant if they are there for certain amount of time but does that superseded an agreement already in place?

Seems like if you had a vacant property you could just sign a lease with a friend or family member as way to protect your property. If squatters try and claim they are a tenant just pull out your previously executed lease and say, frick off. I’d assume the older of the leases would be the more valid one.
Posted by beerJeep
Louisiana
Member since Nov 2016
34986 posts
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:37 pm to
Look at me.

This is my house now.
Posted by SlowFlowPro
Simple Solutions to Complex Probs
Member since Jan 2004
422189 posts
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:38 pm to
It's still going to be a question requiring litigation and a court deciding, creating a judgment determining rights that the police can follow.

The thing with squatters are they will rely on fraud, and this requires a burden of proof to overcome.
Posted by Tiger985
Member since Nov 2006
6462 posts
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:39 pm to
Laws are different everywhere.

Squatters can have some legal protections in New York in as little as 30 days.

Some places will throw squatters out in about 15 minutes.

All depends.

I'm not an attorney.
Posted by Robin Masters
Birmingham
Member since Jul 2010
29717 posts
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:39 pm to
quote:

Look at me. This is my house now.


It’s absurd but that is the reality is some states.
Posted by saintsfan1977
West Monroe, from Cajun country
Member since Jun 2010
7690 posts
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:39 pm to
You could avoid them by going into your house with a firearm and kicking them out. There is no proof they are residing there.
Posted by SlowFlowPro
Simple Solutions to Complex Probs
Member since Jan 2004
422189 posts
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:40 pm to
quote:

Squatters can have some legal protections in New York in as little as 30 days.

Some places will throw squatters out in about 15 minutes.


If the squatter is willing to lie and claim they have a lease, it makes it difficult no matter the state
Posted by SlowFlowPro
Simple Solutions to Complex Probs
Member since Jan 2004
422189 posts
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:41 pm to
quote:

You could avoid them by going into your house with a firearm and kicking them out.

Legal advice: do not do this. You could be arrested on some serious felonies considered crimes of violence.
Posted by Robin Masters
Birmingham
Member since Jul 2010
29717 posts
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:42 pm to
quote:

t's still going to be a question requiring litigation and a court deciding, creating a judgment determining rights that the police can follow. The thing with squatters are they will rely on fraud, and this requires a burden of proof to overcome.


I guess that is my thought. If you already have an agreement with someone that supersedes the fake one the squatters present that should give the sheriff enough proof to evict the squatters.

I mean, it can’t hurt right?

My mom has a cottage on Lake Michigan that doesn’t get used much which is why I’m asking.
Posted by andwesway
Zachary, LA
Member since Jun 2016
1501 posts
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:43 pm to
Does this actually happen here in Louisiana? When I read about this, it's always in one of the deep blue states.
Posted by SlowFlowPro
Simple Solutions to Complex Probs
Member since Jan 2004
422189 posts
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:43 pm to
quote:

If you already have an agreement with someone that supersedes the fake one

How do you determine this?

2 different leases are presented to the LEO who is called.

Are you going to leave this up to LEO?
Posted by Robin Masters
Birmingham
Member since Jul 2010
29717 posts
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:45 pm to
quote:

How do you determine this? 2 different leases are presented to the LEO who is called. Are you going to leave this up to LEO?



Dates?

Whiteness by a notary?

Owner and tenant both have a copy of the same lease? Owner does not have a copy of the squatters lease?

Owner confirms one tenant is the legal tenant and not the other?



This post was edited on 3/31/24 at 1:47 pm
Posted by TackySweater
Member since Dec 2020
11791 posts
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:45 pm to
quote:

the squatter is willing to lie and claim they have a lease, it makes it difficult

Seems pretty cut and dry if they can’t produce a lease?
Posted by billjamin
Houston
Member since Jun 2019
12463 posts
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:47 pm to
quote:

requires a burden of proof

Might have to name my next AR build “burden of proof”
Posted by TigerintheNO
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2004
41175 posts
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:48 pm to
just let Higgins take care of your place
Posted by SlowFlowPro
Simple Solutions to Complex Probs
Member since Jan 2004
422189 posts
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:48 pm to
quote:

Does this actually happen here in Louisiana?

I think we've had some stories over the years from New Orleans

It's primarily an urban thing, b/c they have so many renters, you often end up with some tenant protection laws. Then squatters exploited those laws.

Now they're more sophisticated and claim they have a lease
Posted by SlowFlowPro
Simple Solutions to Complex Probs
Member since Jan 2004
422189 posts
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:49 pm to
quote:

Dates?

Whiteness by a notary?

Owner and tenant both have a copy of the same lease? Owner does not have a copy of the squatters lease?

Owner confirms one tenant is the legal tenant and not the other?

Sounds like you need some discovery.
Posted by Robin Masters
Birmingham
Member since Jul 2010
29717 posts
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:49 pm to
quote:

just let Higgins take care of your place


He keeps letting his mustachioed boy toy drive my Ferrari.
Posted by SlowFlowPro
Simple Solutions to Complex Probs
Member since Jan 2004
422189 posts
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:50 pm to
quote:

Seems pretty cut and dry if they can’t produce a lease?

What would yo do if a random LEO came to your door and demanded to see a copy of your mortgage/lease?
Posted by Morpheus
In your Dreams
Member since Apr 2022
4136 posts
Posted on 3/31/24 at 1:50 pm to
Tell you how you deal with it.
Get one other decent sized buddy, walk in your own frickin house, grab them by one arm, grab the trash bag with the other, and throw them into the street.
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