Protecting Your Property: Beware Squatters
Ben Richardson
Our population is aging, and one of the housing challenges some of us face is the issue of squatters. If you own property, understanding the risks squatters present and how to protect against them can help maintain not only your property, but your mental health and well being as well.
The threat of squatters is very real for those who own multiple properties or who might be transitioning into senior living, leaving their previous home empty for a period of time.
The terms “adverse possession” and“open, notorious, and hostile” sound intimidating, and well they might! Squatters are people who occupy a property without the owner’s permission.
To legally take ownership of a place through adverse possession, Oregon rules state that a squatter must live in a home for 10 years, pay property taxes, and behave as if they own the home. This is known as open, notorious, and hostile use. If you detect someone living on your property, it isn’t always a simple matter to get them to leave. Landowners and homeowners alike can be affected. Your best bet is to prevent squatting from happening in the first place.
Squatters are robbers. Generally, they don’t benefit the property in any way. Quite the opposite. Since they did not save and sacrifice for years to qualify to buy the property, they don’t have any skin in the game, and they generally don’t care about maintaining or keeping the property in good shape.
If you want to sell while squatters are in or on your property, expect its value to take a serious hit. Squatters rob sellers of their
home value. It could take years and expensive price reductions in the process just to get the property sold. Expect equity loss and pray this never happens, especially in a correcting market.
What can you do? First, make sure your property looks maintained and lived in, even if you don’t live there. A tidy lawn, beds and shrubbery, plus working utilities make a home appear lived in. Be sure mail is picked up regularly and newspapers don’t pile up out front. You can ask friends and neighbors to help or hire help — from a neighborhood service or property management company.
If the home is empty, set up automatic lights to turn on at night and off during the day. You can do this with an automatic system or an app that allows you to turn lights on and off from your phone.
Make your home difficult to get into. Be sure doors and windows are locked and not broken. Be wary of leaving an extra key outside your home. Set up security cameras and alarms.
Install motion-sensor lights around the house. Put up a “No Trespassing” sign. Let neighbors know if you’re going to be away so they can keep an eye out for anything unusual.
If you choose to rent your property to tenants, conduct detailed screenings. A property management company can help by seeking out responsible tenants. This might include background checks, rental history, and credit reports. Have a strong, clear — ideally, attorney -approved — rental agreement in place.
While property owners in Oregon do have rights against squatters, it’s often not easy to evict them. Most owners, if not all, feel like squatters have more rights than they do. If the need ever arises, seek professional help, and let them do what they are trained to do.
While the issue of squatters may seem daunting, there is reason for optimism. By taking proactive steps to protect your property, you can significantly reduce the risk of encountering such an experience. Remember, knowledge is power, and being aware of the potential challenges is the first step toward prevention.
You’ve worked hard for your property, and you deserve to enjoy peace of mind.
Ben Richardson is the principal broker and owner of Ideal Real Estate. He enjoys helping seniors and is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist. Reach him at ben.idealrealestateor@gmail.com.