Scared of squatters taking your home? Nick Pell brings perspective to what the media tells us is a "growing crisis" on this week's Skeptical Sunday!
On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:
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Squatting occurs when people occupy a property without legal right or permission, often in vacant homes or rental properties. While they may create fake leases or documentation to appear legitimate, they are distinct from legal tenants who have stopped paying rent or are being evicted.
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Most squatting cases become complex civil matters rather than criminal ones because squatters often create fake leases and establish utility bills in their names, making it difficult for police to immediately remove them.
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The current housing situation contributes to squatting — average rent has increased 13.7% year over year since 1980, while wages have only grown 0.2% year over year since the early 1970s, making housing increasingly unaffordable for many.
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Changes to squatting laws need careful consideration, as overly strict laws could potentially be weaponized against legitimate occupants (such as domestic abuse victims) or lead to frivolous claims against legitimate tenants.
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Property owners can protect themselves by regularly checking on their properties, maintaining good documentation of ownership and occupancy, and quickly establishing a paper trail with authorities if issues arise. Being proactive rather than reactive is the best defense against potential squatting situations.
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