Unusual request

[AlbertJ]

Recently I received a call from a person from a company that stated they recently took over/purchased a home in my area, they wanted me to go to the house take pictures of the outside, ascertain if possible if anyone is living
their like squaters and place a lockbox on the door. Are any of you all getting these requests and if so are you doing them???????? Thanks

[SARK9]

I just received a similar call yesterday. However, the mortgage company plans to send their own rep. to take pictures and secure the property. They asked if I can be available to standby in case someone happens to be squatting there. From what I was told by the mortgage company, squatting and copper theft are two major problems for them.

I drove by the house last night and it does appear that someone is living there. I reported my observations to the local PD. I plan to make arrangements with the mortgage rep. to meet us at the P.D. station. That way, an officer can accompany us to house. The last time I helped with something like this the squatter turned out to have multiple "CR" warrants. It was a nice bonus!

Albertj, my concern with the request you received would be the liability. I'm not sure I would want to be responsible for taking pictures inside a structure and or securing it. If you do, will the company hold YOU liable if someone breaks into it afterward? Worse yet, if someone does happen to be living there what authority is in hand to remove them? If I were you, I would try to get the company to send a rep. over with you. Or, if you can, try to get some type of "release of liability" from the company.

[AlbertJ]

Thats exactly what I thought, my insurance would not cover me on this, thank you

[SETZ]

In many places, squatting is in itself a crime; in others, it is only seen as a civil conflict between the owner and the occupants. However, in many cases where squatters had de facto ownership, laws have been changed to legitimize their status. Squatters often claim rights over the spaces they have squatted by virtue of occupation, rather than ownership; in this sense, squatting is similar to not paying rent without a lease and requires eviction.

We all know the procedures for eviction. Can't just throw the bums out, but you can take them away on any warrants that they may have.

[AlbertJ]

Good point but if the person who owns the property says, "Hey I own that property they have not business their, I want them out, they are trespassing", and provides documentation to prove it does that change the picture at all??

[Constable&FF]

If if they are claiming ownership and say the people are trespassing, What authority do you have to act? What if the squatters produce mail and claim to have established residence there? How do you cover yourself if the mortgage company is just trying to circumvent the eviction process?

[FREDSTATE]

Just a heads up guys but I have run into several issues regarding the current housing situation.

It seems an owner of a property defaults on their mortgage and the bank starts the process of taking it back.

That's all fine and good but what if that person happens to have tenants and you happen to go to one of these properties to do whatever for said private bank or company and you illegally evict one of these persons who just happens to be a tenant but you think is a squatter or tresspasser??

Remember, all is not what it looks like on the surface!!

It is not your job to evict or send away ANYONE without a court order in your hand or unless YOU are the owner of the property in question.

BTW, the banks/mortgage companies MUST abide by any lease contracts a renter may have on the property.

That means if Mr. Smith is paying his rent monthly on time and has a year lease and he's 2 months in guess what.....he's staying till the end of the year unless the bank finds him suitable housing or pays him!!

Let the banks send their own reps or such, if they request me as security to accompany them with a rep, that's fine I have no problem providing security for them to do that, but I won't evict, take pictures or anything like that.

Be careful doing this kind of stuff.....

Fred

[maynard]

Originally Posted by AlbertJ

Good point but if the person who owns the property says, "Hey I own that property they have not business their, I want them out, they are trespassing", and provides documentation to prove it does that change the picture at all??

albertj,

i removed squatter's once, lived in a place several year's never paid dime one.

i did have a court order attached to a letter from the folk's to be removed immediatley, if not sooner.

i notified the local pd, provided my paperwork, and asked for there prescense in case of problems.

(how bout this) these folk's somehow called the local DJ, he called the cop's wanted to know why they where there, and to have them leave the scene immediately.

the chief told him, he asked for us for his safety/there's, and we agree with his request, too bad so sad.

what a joke that was.

just because a landlord say's, i own it, they didn't do this or that. wouldn't touch it without a court order.

i agree with other advise about having a rep from the realtor/bank, with you, in the first place, (when do we ever secure a property); meaning, changing lock's etc., never.

maynard