Getting Rid of Squatters

[terracore]

Our neighbor walked up to the squatters with a shotgun over her shoulder and "evicted" them. She's at least 70 years old.

ETA: They left.

[reni]

"The place I'm thinking of is a cesspit. Never was permitted,"

Call the Hawaii County building dept. if the building is not permitted.
They will tell you how to file a complaint. They will involve the owner & inspect upon receipt of a written complaint.

[Rob Tucker]

And the building department will write a citation against the owner, not the squatters.

[kalakoa]

the building department will write a citation against the owner, not the squatters.

Not sure I see a problem here. If the building owner doesn't have a use for the property and/or can't be bothered to manage it appropriately, they're contributing to the problem and deserve citation for same.

[alaskyn66]

quote:

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Originally posted by kalakoa

the building department will write a citation against the owner, not the squatters.

Not sure I see a problem here. If the building owner doesn't have a use for the property and/or can't be bothered to manage it appropriately, they're contributing to the problem and deserve citation for same.

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I would have to agree...

[MarkD]

The payoff approach has worked great for me, as well.

It has worked well for us on our rentals also. But an issue can arise if the outgoing tenant leaves on the condition that you also give them a satisfactory reference to their new landlord.

You hate to be dishonest to the new prospective landlord who calls you for a reference. If you tell them the truth--which you should--and your tenant was a real troublemaker and does not get the new place they were applying for, the tenant can come back and vandalize your property.

Our bad apple refused to leave unless we provided a good reference. It got complicated.

[mermaid53]

YurtGirl, is there electricity? I thought that was going to be part of the formula Mitch Roth was working on. HELCO was providing svcs to whomever was living on the property, including squatters.

[kalakoa]

HELCO was providing svcs to whomever

So long as they pay their bill on time, why should HELCO care?

More property tax classes would fix the problem. Homeowners get a discount, rental property pays full price, why not have higher rates for vacation rental and squatter cesspit?

[reni]

"And the building department will write a citation against the owner, not the squatters."

Correct, and I agree. The property is the owner's asset & responsibility.
Communities enforcing this approach appear to have less "squatter grief" . New York city has taken the law as far as requiring banks, who have foreclosed on properties to keep them well maintained as long as they remain in the bank's possession.

It would be helpful if HELCO would require an owner's signature to approve service to his or her property prior to turning on the power for the renter.

[Kenney]

Here's a variation on the squatter problem:
My next door neighbor allowed someone to stay in her Ohana dwelling in exchange for yard work. When the woman didn't do any yard work, she was asked to leave, but wouldn't. When the police came, the unwanted guest said it was her land and the cops almost arrested my 30+ year neighbor . When they realized who the owner really was they still said they could do nothing. It took months to get the lady out. I was in utter disbelief. Now I don't invite any strangers to stay here because I don't want any hassle at my home. It's too bad because in the 80's we'd often bring world travelers home to stay and enjoyed their company. Some offered free labor for building and yard work. Don't we as landowners have the right to show someone to the door?