State Specific Question About: CALIFORNIA (CA)

Here in AZ we have the option of physically throwing them out or calling the PD to do it.

I warn the neighbors at my rentals when they are empty and when I have a renter moving in. I have a FOR RENT sign in the front yard. In 2015 two cars of people pulled up that did not look like the class of people I normally rent to.

My neighbor greeted them and said he would call me so they could see the property. They said they would come back later and they never did.

Because of the difficulty of removing squatters I will install a Simply-Safe alarm while it is empty.

Thank you for that feedback. Do you find homes that are completely vacant are the ones getting hit by squatters? Or do you see it in Vacation Rentals?

I am wondering if the STR industry helps avoid squatters? Instead of actually attracting them as a recent article suggested.

PS - I second an alarm like SS. Generally if they get in and the alarm goes off the PD "should" take action as trespassers or burglars, even if they have a fake lease - well, maybe not in CA.

Also securing entry points well helps and lighting up the place. And letting neighbors know to call you. I give out pizza cards.

PS - not sure how vacation rentals would be handled. Short term or daily rentals, may be handled under "Innkeeper" laws - where they could be arrested for "defrauding an innkeeper." Especially if you paid a city bed tax.

Like I say, here in AZ other than truly abandoned buildings I haven't heard of any problems. We have a lot of seasonal vacation homes that are vacant for long periods. The problem then is burglary.

I've had two students so far that have been cleaned out. The burglars were inside for extended periods. One even took off all the vents and crawled the attic looking for hidden loot. Another left their truck locked in the garage - with the keys in it. They came home to an empty house and no truck!

In ontario a landlord wkth squatters will likely have to go thru a full lengthy eviction.

Our system is designed to keep occupants in the property for as long as possible at the landlords expense. For instance when I once told the landlord tenant board I couldnt fill out the squatters names on the eviction papers as they wouldnt tell me their names, the response was "talk to your politician".