Landlords deal with a lot of problems when it comes to property management. They may encounter damages to the structure, unpaid rent, loud tenants, or financial crises. They may even have to face a tenant in court. But one of the worst things that a landlord can come up against is having a squatter.

What is a squatter?

The first thing that comes to mind when I hear the word “squatter” is a person who breaks into an empty property and illegally stays there. However, I’ve learned that those people are not the only ones. In the rental business, a squatter may be a tenant who refused to leave after their lease or continued to occupy the rental without paying the rent. It could also be someone who rents unknowingly to a scammer.

Not to confuse a trespasser, a squatter is anyone who resides in a rental without paying the owner. A trespasser, on the other hand, is a person who breaks in with the intent to steal.

Getting rid of squatters

Once a landlord discovers that he has a squatter on his property, he might want to kick them out immediately. I know any landlord would wish that. However, there are correct steps to take in doing it.

First, the landlord should contact the authorities. If it’s a trespasser, they might be dangerous, and the owner should not approach them alone. If not, the police will let the landlord deal with it.

If they are squatters, the property owner should serve an eviction notice. Some will immediately vacate the property, but if not, the landlord can do the next step. He can file a civil claim or a court order to remove the tenant. Once the landlord wins the eviction case, the squatter should leave immediately. If that still does not work, the authorities can assist with the process.

Avoiding squatters

It is challenging to deal with squatters on a property because they have rights. The property owners cannot kick them out just like that, but there are things they can do to avoid them in the first place. They have to take action, and one of them is investing in a security system. Having cameras on the premises will allow landlords to see who goes in and out.

Another thing they can do is to put up a “No Trespassing” or “Private Property” sign outside. It will serve as a warning to everyone. Plus, it will alert the neighbors that no one should be there. They can notify the property owner once they see someone inside the rental.

The best method to prevent squatters is to have good tenants in the first place. They won’t overstay and will pay the rent. If they want to live there longer, they can renew their lease. It is made possible through a proper screening process. As a leasing agent, it is your job to ensure that the tenant has a clean history.

There is also another thing you can do as an agent. You can help the landlord avoid long periods of vacancies. You can do that by constantly marketing the rental property to the public. A great idea would be to sign up and join Padleads. Padleads will give you access to their site, and you can post your property listings online. And to make it even better, the listings can be syndicated to other websites.

Landlords should not tolerate any squatters. If they let it go on for a long time, problems may arise. For instance, there might be property damages and difficulty in claiming ownership. The best thing is to deal with it immediately.