Basically I bought a house off a guy but found out he didn't own it. Dam lady came n he got caught.ive been here for a year do I have squatters rights?its been empty for a year.
I like the advice. I had a situation thou with a squat, where cops were called by the company that owned the property and we tried to show the cops all the mail etc.as a proof that we lived there. But cops only chose one side, that is the owner who told them we squared the house. So they arrested us anyway, and while we were in jail overnight , the company changed the lock and bordered up the door with all out shit inside. So, later on, a good friend attorney helped us get the stuff out. But we were still charged with trespassing and given acd (also thanks to the lawyer, could be being worse)If you didn't already leave, don't, and then change the locks and continue living there. Demand to be taken to civil court, continue to postpone any court dates, refuse to move out. Once it becomes a civil matter, you can't really be removed until a judge orders it (in most jurisdictions). The problem is the fucking local police will over step their authority into civil territory sometimes and remove you and possibly cite you for trespassing. That's why having the only set of keys is critical, this is even more important if there was never a lease, because technically you are not a tenant and would have no rights, it's a debate for who actually owns the property, which must be settled in civil court. Obviously you probably don't, but that shouldn't stop you from living there for possibly years before a judge orders the sheriff to remove you. Do not give the alleged owner the chance to get inside, if they break in, call the police. Start getting mail sent to house as well, anything you can use to show the responding authorities that although this lady is claiming to own the house, you're living there, and you don't know who she is and she is NOT your landlord. Legally the local police couldn't remove you in this situation (with keys, mail, legal ID with valid address, etc), that doesn't mean a poorly educated cop won't try though.
I like the advice. I had a situation thou with a squat, where cops were called by the company that owned the property and we tried to show the cops all the mail etc.as a proof that we lived there. But cops only chose one side, that is the owner who told them we squared the house. So they arrested us anyway, and while we were in jail overnight , the company changed the lock and bordered up the door with all out shit inside. So, later on, a good friend attorney helped us get the stuff out. But we were still charged with trespassing and given acd (also thanks to the lawyer, could be being worse)
So yeah, by that experience I've learnt that there are no squatters rights anymore, really. That was in NYC btw