The North Carolina Judiciary Committee in the House of Representatives has greenlit a bill that allows property owners to evict squatters within 48 hours of a complaint. This means that squatters will have to vacate the property immediately upon receiving a complaint from the owner.
Rep. John Bradford, R-Mecklenburg County, a property management software company owner, is the sponsor of House Bill 984. Before reaching the full chamber, the legislation needs to pass through the committees for finance and rules.
During Wednesday’s committee meeting, Bradford informed members that the proposal may undergo amendments as it progresses.
According to Bradford, squatters are individuals who reside in a land or building that they do not have legal permission to occupy. They do not pay rent and lack proper documentation to prove ownership or tenancy of the property.
According to the legislator, North Carolina’s civil law does not provide a process for swiftly removing a squatter.
According to Bradford, this proposed legislation would allow residential property owners to file a complaint with law enforcement agencies to remove an unauthorized person who has refused to comply with the owner’s request to vacate the premises.
According to Bradford, the exemption would not be applicable to a tenant who continues to occupy the property after the lease has expired.
According to the lawmaker, the authorities will first verify the complaint and then take action to remove the squatter within 48 hours.
According to Bradford, if the person accused of squatting feels that they have been wrongfully evicted, they can take legal action against the property owner through a civil lawsuit.
Bradford expressed that there are ongoing concerns about liability from both the Sheriff’s Association and the Chiefs of Police.
He said that law enforcement’s suggestions will be incorporated into the bill before it reaches the Rules Committee to ensure that it is given due consideration during the brief legislative session.
He stated that they were voting on the bill in its current form to keep things moving. However, he emphasized that he was still collaborating with any interested parties.
According to Bradford, a landlord in his district suffered a loss of $15,000 in rent due to a squatter.
According to the lawmaker, there was an individual residing in that particular location, and efforts to remove them were unsuccessful.
Bradford mentioned that attempting to remove an individual through a standard civil lawsuit could take several months.
He stated that the duration of work in urban areas could be longer due to the workload.