Michigan Senate Republicans have introduced legislation intended to help property owners more easily rid themselves of illegal squatters.
State Senator Aric Nesbitt tells us Senate Bill 909 would establish a more simplified process to evict someone who’s trespassing on someone else’s property.
“What we’ve seen, the law abiding property owners do not have to battle through unnecessary red tape and legal hurdles to remove squatting criminals from their private property,” Nesbitt said. “Squatting is a crime in Michigan. However, our laws also force homeowners to undergo an overly burdensome bureaucratic process.”
The legislation would allow property owners to file a complaint with their local county sheriff to order the immediate removal of unlawful squatters. Nesbitt says this would be done with a simple form.
Nesbitt tells us there have been horror stories around the state of people taking over vacation homes or even rented properties, claiming the property is their own and refusing to leave. This would address those situations. He says this isn’t the same as the more common situation of a landlord seeking to evict a tenant.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety for further consideration.
