Tomorrow the Michigan Senate Judiciary Committee will meet to consider recommendations concerning certain bills. See the full committee meeting agenda at the link below:
Among those bills discussed are three proposed bills that would modify “squatters rights” and make certain actions of unlawful tenants a crime.
HB5069 Provide exception to liability for damages if landlord enters premises if occupant is squatting;
HB5070 Provide for definition of squatter, and provide penalties for squatting on certain premises;
HB5071 Enact sentencing guidelines for crime of squatting;
What I found most interesting was the bill analysis for HB 5069, see below:
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/billanalysis/House/pdf/2013-HLA-5069-56CE1BB5.pdf
Apparently there is an epidemic of “professional squatters” who abuse the system.
I had no idea that this was a problem – although I do see where the system lends itself to abuse:
- It is a problem if landlords/owners have to evict trespassers from their own home;
- It is a problem if trespassers move from REO to REO forcing financial institutions to pay them thousands to vacate a house that they are illegally staying in;
- It is a problem if trespassers can simply fabricate a lease, and claim they have paid months in advance, and effectively stay rent free in property until the owners can convince a district court judge of the truth.
Again, all of these scenarios can be abused, but I would like to know – how prevalent is this problem?
Thoughts? Questions?
Email: Jeshua@dwlawpc.com
Purpose Driven General Counsel 