lets put 2 and 2 together.... if you squat and cant be evicted....

[GregV814]

Montgomery Co. council asks Md. governor to help fend off ‘massive wave of evictions’ - WTOP News

The Montgomery County Council is asking for funding to help some 17,000 Maryland families who are at risk of being evicted from their homes.

wtop.com

Man loses $100,000 property in Delaware beach community after neighbor claims squatter’s rights

“It’s just always been my backyard since I was a little kid,” the neighbor reportedly said.

nypost.com

 

[frequentflier]

Montgomery Co. council asks Md. governor to help fend off ‘massive wave of evictions’ - WTOP News

The Montgomery County Council is asking for funding to help some 17,000 Maryland families who are at risk of being evicted from their homes.

wtop.com

Man loses $100,000 property in Delaware beach community after neighbor claims squatter’s rights

“It’s just always been my backyard since I was a little kid,” the neighbor reportedly said.

nypost.com

I read the Delaware story yesterday and wondered who has been paying property taxes on that land for 20 years? If it was the guy that inherited and ignored it, the woman that took it w/o his permission should have to at least pay him back.
P.S. I think "squatters rights" are total BS. And in some cases, eminent domain.

 

[NorthBeachPerso]

I read the Delaware story yesterday and wondered who has been paying property taxes on that land for 20 years? If it was the guy that inherited and ignored it, the woman that took it w/o his permission should have to at least pay him back.
P.S. I think "squatters rights" are total BS. And in some cases, eminent domain.

I had the same question about the taxes. Apparently in Delaware as long as the taxes are paid, whether the owner or the squatter, it doesn't matter who pays them as long as the "open and notorious occupation" and the time limit of 20 years is met. That's different from Maryland which does take who pays the taxes into account.

Delaware Adverse Possession Laws - FindLaw

Chart providing details of Delaware Adverse Possession Laws

www.findlaw.com

 

[Clem72]

It sounds like this guy lost his land because he lived in another state and never visited. This actually sounds like a straightforward application of the law (I have used this property forever, never knew it belonged to someone else, and they never showed up for 20+ years).

I don't necessarily agree with adverse possession, but this doesn't sound like an abuse of the law. I actually think the most fair solution would be for the person who takes possession to pay the fair market value (not current but from when they started using the property). That keeps someone from allowing a worthless property to be used and then suddenly getting interested if the value goes up.

If the guy was actually living on the property and just ignored the animal pen, that would be a different story.

 

[Kyle]

Montgomery Co. council asks Md. governor to help fend off ‘massive wave of evictions’ - WTOP News

The Montgomery County Council is asking for funding to help some 17,000 Maryland families who are at risk of being evicted from their homes.

wtop.com

Man loses $100,000 property in Delaware beach community after neighbor claims squatter’s rights

“It’s just always been my backyard since I was a little kid,” the neighbor reportedly said.

nypost.com

He should give her a lead injection along with the judge.

 

[Sneakers]

I had the same question about the taxes. Apparently in Delaware as long as the taxes are paid, whether the owner or the squatter, it doesn't matter who pays them as long as the "open and notorious occupation" and the time limit of 20 years is met. That's different from Maryland which does take who pays the taxes into account.

Delaware Adverse Possession Laws - FindLaw

Chart providing details of Delaware Adverse Possession Laws

www.findlaw.com

But something I found recently, if you pay property taxes online, all you need is the tax account number (which is easily obtainable) and you can pay the taxes on any property, doesn't have to be your own.

 

[vraiblonde]

I don't really understand the concept of "squatter's rights" and how that can even be a thing. You own a house or property; someone moves into it or uses it illegally and without your permission; and somehow that house/property becomes theirs?

I don't understand how that can be. That seems so farfetched and nonsensical I can't believe it's the law.

 

[GregV814]

its a new world.....

 

[Gilligan]

I don't really understand the concept of "squatter's rights" and how that can even be a thing. You own a house or property; someone moves into it or uses it illegally and without your permission; and somehow that house/property becomes theirs?

I don't understand how that can be. That seems so farfetched and nonsensical I can't believe it's the law.

it's pretty cut and dry, actually: A squatter in Maryland has to live on your property for 20 years before they can obtain legal ownership of the area. However, the squatter will need to continuously occupy the property to establish adverse possession and make a claim

 

[Sneakers]

I did a little research on this years ago. If I remember right, you don't even have to occupy the land, just maintain it. Like if you have woods adjoining a neighbor's property, and that neighbor cuts and mows and trims and maintains some portion of it, in time it can be claimed as theirs. I thought it was 7 years, maybe 20...

 

[GregV814]

So, if Governor MOORE halts all evictions in Montgomery County, Baltimore, et.al.... we will have new homeowners...Kind of a new Homesteaders practice in the "Free State"??

 

[Clem72]

So, if Governor MOORE halts all evictions in Montgomery County, Baltimore, et.al.... we will have new homeowners...Kind of a new Homesteaders practice in the "Free State"??

I don't know if adverse possession can be claimed on a business property, the owner is in fact "using" the property. Though does it matter if the tenant doesn't pay and doesn't have to leave? That's better than owning, all the upside and none of the down.

 

[GURPS]

Man loses $100,000 property in Delaware beach community after neighbor claims squatter’s rights

“It’s just always been my backyard since I was a little kid,” the neighbor reportedly said.

nypost.com

Who has paid the property taxes the past 20 yrs

IMHO THAT is the Owner .. not some bitch squatting

 

[vraiblonde]

Who has paid the property taxes the past 20 yrs

See, that's the thing - I don't understand how someone can own the deed to a property, pay the taxes on it, and someone else can just move it and take ownership. It should be trespassing or breaking and entering.

 

[Sneakers]

See, that's the thing - I don't understand how someone can own the deed to a property, pay the taxes on it, and someone else can just move it and take ownership. It should be trespassing or breaking and entering.

If you catch it early and report it or get the police involved, yes. If it goes on for a time and you do nothing about it, it makes it sound like you have no interest in pursuing it.

 

[Kyle]

At this point I'm sure there are some homeless vagrants that should own a Federal building or two.

 

[Clem72]

Who has paid the property taxes the past 20 yrs

IMHO THAT is the Owner .. not some bitch squatting

There were no buildings on that property (unless you count a goat pen) and Delaware only taxes real property not land so chances are he didn't pay any taxes on it for the last 20 years.

 

[PrchJrkr]

I did a little research on this years ago. If I remember right, you don't even have to occupy the land, just maintain it. Like if you have woods adjoining a neighbor's property, and that neighbor cuts and mows and trims and maintains some portion of it, in time it can be claimed as theirs. I thought it was 7 years, maybe 20...

My next door neighbor cleared about 20 feet of woods behind his house to allow more sunlight on his garden. Over the years, he let it go to lawn and maintained it as if he owned it. I've done the same thing with clearing behind my house to some extent. This has been going on in excess of 40 years. Can we rightfully claim the cleared and maintained area as our property?

 

[PeoplesElbow]

Hmmm looking for politician and celebrity owned unused land....

 

[Sneakers]

My next door neighbor cleared about 20 feet of woods behind his house to allow more sunlight on his garden. Over the years, he let it go to lawn and maintained it as if he owned it. I've done the same thing with clearing behind my house to some extent. This has been going on in excess of 40 years. Can we rightfully claim the cleared and maintained area as our property?

Quite possibly. Might be worth investigating further. But pretty sure once you claim it and officially title it, you get it added to your tax bill.