What is the term "Squatting" and why is it illegal in the United States?

mumontherun

Squatting is legal in Australia. Actually if you squat somewhere for 7 years (I think) you suddenly can stay there forever.....

A squatter comes onto your property and lives there, without your knowledge (if you find out about them, you get rid of them ASAP). Its not trespassing (for some strange reason), but its also not a crime... strange hey! But if you don't get rid of them after 7 years they get "squatters rights"

Canadian Bacon

Squatting is living on a property without permission from the owner, or without paying rent.

When you read about it, they were likely referring to squatter towns, which are basically communities of squatters all living together on a property, illegally. If its just a property with nothing on it, they can make their own little shanty homes. If it's something like a run-down vacant house or apartment, then obviously the don't need to do that.

Many

its not

Curious

I doubt that it's legal in the UK, but the two countries have different laws and ways of dealing with people who move into an abandoned/vacant property and gain tenants rights without paying rent -- just by being there.

DOOM

It's living in a house that isn't yours, without the owner's consent. It's essentially stealing.

Renae S

Im not sure why squatting is illegal in the US but I can tell you that squatting is people that have no where to go will sleep in an abandoned property.I heard that term a couple years ago.It's just using an empty place to sleep.Sorry I cant help entirely

CW L

if the pioneer days of our country, squatters would find a piece of property that looked nice to them and plainly stop in their tracks, build a shack to live in and farm the land without paying for any of the mortgage payments due against the property nor contact the owner and pay the owner his due rent for the privilege of sitting on and working the property.

basically, they were called squatters and were subsequently killed or run off the property by those who rightfully owned the parcel of land.

fun.notnuts

There is such a thing as "Squatter's Rights" in some countries.
You can go into an empty house and stay there (but if you leave they can prevent you from returning) or live on land that isn't yours in a tent or shack....and be a squatter. When you squat you don't recline in a lazyboy. In other words, you don't get to build your dream home on someone else's land.

Crazy Horse

Squatting is illegal. Squatting is occupying an abandoned or empty building that the squatter does not own. There are many homeless runaways who do this. Generally squatters are in small to large groups.

Kel

say you park a trailer in a city park and stay there that would be squating

Txlady

1. Go to:"Research your answer" on your question page. 2. Type in: Squatters Rights/Definition? 3. Go to: #3.

Kris L

Squatting means going into an abandoned building and setting up to live there. In the U.K., if you do that you CAN NOT BE EVICTED as long as you live there. Squatting is illegal in the U.S. in MOST PLACES, but there are a very few where it is 'legal' to 'squat' ... these are NOT good places to live, however, and most are in the Adirondacks in the very POOREST parts of the county (if they are still there at all) ... if you are 'squatting' there is usually no water or electricity or gas ... and you MUST 'sneak in and out' rather than have friends over for a party.

FCabanski

Squatting is the act of occupying a property or structure without legal right to do so. For example, there's a home on your block nobody occupies. You find the door open and move in to live.

In the UK squatting is a civil matter. It only becomes criminal if there is evidence of forced entry.

In the US the act of squatting in itself is a criminal act.

FLY-ONE

squatting is when a person takes up residence in an vacant living unit and this is called trespassing and that is illegal in the U.S

jhun c

i don't know what you mean but for me squatting is like a stretching where you sit on the air...

Lyssa

i think its when you inhabit an empty house or any dwelling. of course its illegal here; if the govt loses out on any money ITS ILLEGAL
even though this country was built from homesteading... wtvr
i hate this place anyway

lizzy t

Candice

cheerchick23

no clue! lol its funny though

dylansmom25

canadian bacon is right on.. his/her answer is correct

catchup

it is a rundown house that has not been inspected and rated safe

joey1234

I arranged for a guy I worked with to stay ina my cabin on a temporary basis to see is an arrangement might work out. I was going to get a $200 deposit, charge 145/mo, and have him work at least 30 hours a mweek around my property. He moved in without paying any rent or deposit because I vususally leave the door open. After almost 2 months with no money and no rent, no deposit and during the time he was there he moved in his girlfriend who had a 10 year old kid and a huge dog, I got him to move out but the woman , her kid, and dog refused to leave. Law enforcrment told me I had to evict her. She accidentally locked herself out after destroying much of the inside. she took what looked like a sledgehammer to the automatic garage door and that same day the cabin misteriously burns to the ground. The police didn't help and have written a report that reeks they think I set the fire. $125,000 cabin insured for $50,000, sure. They are nuts and I don't know what to do. I can't believe something this bad has happened to me. Lawyers cost money. Is one out there who will help me for under 5,000.00?

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