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Re:Squatters in Spain who demand a "ransom" before they will... by mcherm on Thursday August 26, 2021 @05:08PM (#28320797)
As I understand it, that is basically how it works in the courts in many US states. The court takes several months to schedule and hold the hearings to determine whether or not the person is, in fact, legally entitled to be in the dwelling. If not, then the landlord can file different orders to get the sheriff or other law enforcement to perform the eviction. By the time all the steps have occurred it's been many months... sometimes 1-2 years. Which is why the advice I see given to landlords is to offer "cash for keys" to get the people out without a court case.

It has been worse recently because of moratoriums on evictions (due to covid). In many cases, that meant that the people occupying the dwelling had no incentive to pay anything at all, and no process existed to remove them.

Re:Squatters in Spain who demand a "ransom" before they will... by azinman2 on Thursday August 26, 2021 @06:32PM (#28321875)
I cannot imagine in the US it bring more than a simple police call to remove randos from your property. This is very different from evictions where someone had been legally living there.
Re:Squatters in Spain who demand a "ransom" before they will... by dec0dedab0de on Thursday August 26, 2021 @07:22PM (#28322307)
The problem is, how can the police know who's property it is? Or more specifically, who has a legal right to be there. It becomes a civil matter, not a criminal one.

Granted, if it's a primary residence, you have your driver's license and neighbors to back you up. But what if it's an investment property? What if the squatters have been there long enough to have their ID say the address?

Re:Squatters in Spain who demand a "ransom" before they will... by azinman2 on Thursday August 26, 2021 @07:47PM (#28322511)
> But what if it's an investment property? What if the squatters have been there long enough to have their ID say the address?

If you own the property, then that's public record and can be easily looked up. Once they verify you own the place, police are going to believe you if you say these people are squatters not renters, and they'll have trouble producing documents otherwise. I'd also love to know what percentage of squatters end up getting IDs with addresses to places they don't own, which also requires btw proof of residence (deed AND other forms like a utility bill with your name on it).

Re:Squatters in Spain who demand a "ransom" before they will... by dec0dedab0de on Thursday August 26, 2021 @10:41PM (#28323760)
Once they verify you own the place, police are going to believe you if you say these people are squatters not renters

If that were true then land lords could evict someone just by calling them a squatter. More to the point, everything you're saying is about making a judgement based on evidence. Police collect evidence, courts make judgements based on that evidence.

Re:Squatters in Spain who demand a "ransom" before they will... by scarecrowbob on Thursday August 26, 2021 @10:28PM (#28323678)
I mean, I just had the local library mail me a postcard so I could get a library card. Post office delivered it no problem and that's enough proof of residency for a lot of things.

I don't need an ID with a to turn on the gas and electric. Or, I haven't anywhere I've been.

I don't think it'd be hard to get an ID anywhere I can pick the mail, to be honest. I don't recall needing a document like a lease to get my last drivers license.

But then, I'm not squatting, and given that I try to keep a reasonable credit record and avoid court, I'm not disposed to start squatting.