Squatter gains ownership of elderly man’s house, sells it for over $500K as the senior survives on meager pension
The Nightmare of Squatters: How Strangers Can Steal Your Home
Imagine a scenario where a complete stranger sells your house without your permission, keeps all the money, and then has the audacity to blame you for their “nightmare” life. Sounds like a Hollywood movie, right?
Well, this nightmare became a reality for Colin Curtis, a resident of the U.K., according to an article by Metro UK.
The story begins with Doris Curtis, Colin’s mother, who passed away in the 1980s and left her house to her son. Colin moved out in 1996 to live in another inherited property but continued paying taxes for the Newbury Park house in East London.
In 1997, a man named Keith Best noticed that the house was vacant and decided to renovate it. He spent a whopping $188,000 on the renovations and eventually moved his family into the house in 2012.
Best then filed an adverse possession claim, which allowed him to become the registered owner of the property. This law enables a trespasser to legally gain possession and ownership of a property if they occupy it openly for an extended period, usually 10 to 20 years.
Colin Curtis fought back, but as the registered executor without a will from his mother, he lacked sufficient legal grounds. Best argued that his visible control of the house since 1997 met the legal time period requirement, and a High Court judge ruled in his favor.
After 12 years of battling in court, Colin Curtis passed away in 2018, living on a meager $321 a week from his state pension and tax credits.
Best then sold the inherited family house for nearly $665,000.
Despite profiting from the sale, Best claims to be the victim, blaming the law for his actions. He argues that he did everything legally and that if anyone has a problem, they should be angry at the law, not him.
Squatter who won battle over dead woman’s home sells it for huge profit.*** Seems Squatters Rights Laws need to be revisited in USA and by our cousins across the pond. Squatters should categorize as Criminal Embezzlement. https://t.co/tyI3WlT0Na
— ALR229712812 (@ALR229712812) December 9, 2023
If you think this kind of situation could never happen in the U.S., think again.
In March, Fox News published an article highlighting cases of U.S. homeowners entangled in lengthy and expensive legal battles to remove squatters from their properties.
One case involved Delaware resident Burton Banks, who tried to sell inherited vacant land only to discover that his neighbor, Melissa Schrock, had claimed a portion of it through adverse possession. Despite paying taxes on the land, Banks lost in court as Schrock insisted it had always been her backyard.
Another case covered by the New York Post involved a suburban Atlanta man who found weapons, a prostitute, and a broken fence on his property. When he called 911, he was the one who got arrested.
the criminal isn’t the squatter, it’s the homeowner
the criminal isn’t the illegal immigrant, it’s the border town farmer
the criminal isn’t the looter, it’s the bodega shop owner
the criminal isn’t the subway vagrant, it’s the hero marine https://t.co/7w5MvfHXLQ
— Logan Hall (@loganclarkhall) August 17, 2023
In California, a COVID-19-related eviction moratorium prevented landlords from evicting tenants, even if they owed over $100,000 in rent. It seems that in many states, authorities may side with squatters over property owners.
It feels like we’re living in the Wild West, where squatters can claim it all.
With more laws protecting criminals rather than homeowners, it’s crucial to be vigilant and protect your property. If you lose it, chances are you’re on your own.
The post Squatter Granted Ownership of Old Man’s House, Sells It for More Than Half a Million While the Elder Lives on Paltry Pension appeared first on The Western Journal.
How can homeowners protect their properties from squatters under current adverse possession laws?
R own properties. One such case involved a couple from California, who returned from a vacation to find strangers living in their house. These squatters had changed the locks and claimed they had a right to occupy the property. The homeowners were forced to navigate a complex legal system and spend thousands of dollars to regain ownership of their own home.
The nightmare of squatters is a phenomenon faced by numerous homeowners around the world. Squatting, often referred to as adverse possession, allows individuals to take over vacant properties and eventually claim legal ownership if they can demonstrate continuous occupation for a certain period of time.
While adverse possession laws were initially intended to resolve land disputes and provide a pathway for abandoned properties to be put to use, they have become a breeding ground for abuse. Opportunistic individuals take advantage of these laws to invade and occupy someone else’s property, leaving the real owner to fight a lengthy and costly battle to regain their rights.
One of the main issues with adverse possession laws is the lengthy timeframe required for squatters to claim ownership. In many jurisdictions, the minimum time period is ten years, during which the true owner may be completely unaware of the encroachment. By the time they become aware, it can be challenging to gather evidence and prove their legal ownership.
Furthermore, adverse possession laws often prioritize the occupier’s rights over the original owner’s. This is not only unjust but encourages an environment where squatting is seen as a legitimate means of acquiring property. This undermines property rights and erodes the trust and security that homeowners should enjoy.
Reforming adverse possession laws is necessary to protect innocent homeowners from falling victim to those seeking to exploit legal loopholes. The first step is to reduce the time period required for adverse possession claims, ensuring that property owners have a reasonable chance to take action before losing their rights.
Additionally, stricter requirements for adverse possession claims should be implemented. Occupiers should not be able to claim ownership purely by living in a property; they should be required to demonstrate improvements made to the property or genuine attempts to contact the original owner.
Governments should also take proactive measures to educate homeowners about their rights and the steps they should take to protect their properties from squatters. By raising awareness and offering guidance, homeowners can be better equipped to prevent and address squatter invasions.
Ultimately, the nightmare of squatters stealing homes is a distressing reality that no homeowner should have to face. It is crucial for lawmakers to prioritize the protection of property rights and revise adverse possession laws to ensure that innocent homeowners are not left defenseless against those seeking to exploit the system.
The story of Colin Curtis and countless others serves as a wake-up call to address this issue promptly. Letting the nightmare of squatters persist only perpetuates injustice, undercutting the very foundations of a fair and secure society. The time for reform is now.
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