re: Portlanders desperately try to sell off homes taken over by squatters

When they take residency you have to get them evicted like a rental or foreclosure. Being it’s west coast it’s extremely hard to get anyone evicted regardless.

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Until 21 years have passed, he has no more right to occupy the property than any other trespasser.

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Thanks for your response -

this is the kind of info I was wanting to see - although this is in Pennsylvania.

When I was a kid, my dad worked for a lumber company HQd in California - they had a few hundred thousand acres of land in west Louisiana. One of his tasks was to examine the boundaries of all that land every "once in a while" (not sure of the time interval then, but I recall something like 7 years) so he could find any squatters in time to get them evicted by the Sheriff. At that time, there was no real sentiment in favor of squatters that I know of.

Anyway, one of the squatters he had evicted pounced on him in the middle of Leesville and beat him up a bit - broke his glasses and bruised his face.

that is all I know about squatters.

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take residency

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I suspect the 'take residency' definition is what the issue really is here - would not be surprised if there is a very lax interpretation of 'residency' there. = like having a bedroll.

In know that in my experience described earlier, a squatter had to prove they had 'lived there undisturbed and productive for a number of years.

I'd be willing to bet it takes far less in Portland to qualify

Front end loader
Excavator
Hooked up to a dump truck.

Go in at night

Tear down the house.
Dump trash in roll off boxes and dump truck.

By morning make sure the site leveled and clean.

No one is on record as living in your house.

Yeah Mr. Sam Colt thinks differently.
Put a gun in someone's face and have a crew of people outside ready to come in and throw that shite out on the other side of the street.
Gotta be quick

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The buyer that ultimately ends up purchasing the home will be tasked with removing squatters that have taken over the property.

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A couple creative solutions.

1. Have the houses condemned by the city for code violations and have the city vacate the properties and demand owners remediate the property to code.

2. Do they have fire insurance? I am willing to bet the squatters are not practicing good fire safety measures. Reduce to rubble and rebuild with insurance claim.

These cities could stop the squatting problems immediately if they wanted to by passing new code regulations for non owner occupied housing. Require specific code standards be met by property owners and if they are not met then the houses are deemed inhabitable and must be vacated. This would give the property owners an alternative recourse than a lengthy and costly court process.

Interesting information regarding your Dad.

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(not sure of the time interval then, but I recall something like 7 years) s

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That length in years sticks with me, too.

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Noticed the Seahawk gear. I go to Portland every other week and noticed the problem there getting worse. I've suspected for some time that the new mayor cleaning things up here in Seattle is pushing them down.

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That is very interesting.

Thank you for the localized perspective of the situation.

Another reason why PB a fascinating forum to discuss these issues!

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When they take residency you have to get them evicted like a rental or foreclosure.

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For most of them, they aren’t inside the home itself.

They occupy part of the property, whether by tent, or just tossing their stuff on it. If you’re stupid enough to leave your garage door up, they’ll pile in there. If they remain a certain length of time (don’t know what amount) they’re considered residents who own that portion.

Since the laws (enforced ones) protect the vagrants it’s a real problem for the homeowners.