As a landlord in Bellview, Florida, dealing with squatters can be a frustrating and challenging experience. Squatters are people who occupy a property without the owner’s permission, and they can be difficult to remove. In this blog post, we will discuss how you can properly evict a squatter in Bellview, Florida.
First, it’s essential to understand the laws in Florida regarding squatters. In Florida, a person can establish adverse possession rights to a property if they occupy it for seven years openly, notoriously, and continuously. Adverse possession means that the squatter can claim ownership of the property if they meet these requirements. It’s important to note that the law does not apply to tenants who have a lease agreement with the property owner.
The first step in evicting a squatter is to ensure that they are, in fact, a squatter and not a tenant. You can do this by checking whether they have a lease agreement or if they pay rent. If they don’t have a lease agreement and don’t pay rent, they are most likely a squatter.
The next step is to serve the squatter with an eviction notice. In Florida, there are two types of eviction notices: the 3-day notice and the 7-day notice. The 3-day notice is used when the squatter is behind on rent or has violated the lease agreement. The 7-day notice is used when the squatter has no legal right to be on the property.
After serving the eviction notice, the squatter has a certain number of days to vacate the property voluntarily. If the squatter refuses to leave, you can file an eviction lawsuit in court. You will need to provide evidence that the squatter has no legal right to be on the property and that you served them with the eviction notice.
Once the court grants you an eviction order, you can have the sheriff or a process server remove the squatter from the property. It’s essential to follow the proper legal procedures during the eviction process to avoid any potential legal issues.
In conclusion, dealing with squatters can be a frustrating experience for landlords in Bellview, Florida. However, by following the proper legal procedures, you can properly evict a squatter from your property. If you’re facing this situation and need assistance, please contact Maple House Home Investors. We can help you work through your landlord issues and offer you a fast cash sale for your property.