Turning off utilities on your

How to legally turn of utilities on Squatter. Doing it wrong will just help your squatter stay in your house longer.
Always be safe and keep others safety in mind.
amzn.to/3St5kfA

[@CrawldaBeast]

As far as I'm concerned, squatting is theft and breaking and entering.

[@michaelmiguelicutti2829]

Legally it is, squatters rights are null and void because the constitution.

[@ianbelletti6241]

The problem is that many squatters have gotten good at manipulating tenant rights laws. They will show a fake lease to the cops. They will do anything they can to drag the court case out. What we need is more states doing what Florida is doing which is expediting squatter evictions.

[@cindycain3301]

Squatting, yes. But there are plenty of bad landlords also. Over pricing everything is the real cause of all of this. At least, I think so.

[@thegreatbambino3358]

It is, but a bunch of soft people (particularly democrats) don't believe in self help

[@user-hy9gy9we3e]

Agree

[@gnewman18]

Called the fire marshal on my tenant because he had not paid his utility bill. Power company shut off the power. He hooked up a generator. I asked the fire marshal to make sure it was safe, of course it wasn’t. He was gone in one day after that.

[@rockstarofredondo]

Yes! What state was this in?

[@Madkalibyr]

Hmm fire marshals do have some interesting rights and responsibilities in some states. Might be an untapped resource?

[@pcatful]

True, people listen to firemen, and the Fire Marshal has a lot power in regard to buildings.

[@whoathatsalotofdamage3718]

Dont forget, natural gas workers do too. You call us knowing theres shenanigans afoot, we'll red tag every appliance we deem unsafe and cut the gas off and lock it​@pcatful

[@bencruz563]

NEVER call police. NEVER file reports. Take the trash out yourself.

[@AllenPendleton]

Hire some goons to take care of business.

[@charlesbaldo]

@@AllenPendletonhave some third party hire them.

[@user-id2gd7yv2d]

Bastard

[@user-id2gd7yv2d]

I am my own goon. I took care of it. But that is a good idea for other people who can't do that on their own. Have a party. Invite some of your friends over...😂

[@anmweather8668]

God damn right.

[@SavageSmithy]

The fact that a judge would EVER side with a squatter should tell you all you need to know about the poor state of the legal system

[@jakefennell8319]

the fact that people have to squat to survive shows the true state of the ECONOMY. That is the problem.

[@HakanTunaMuzik]

@@jakefennell8319 no one needs to squat to survive, that's absolutely BS

[@evan3458]

@@jakefennell8319 I would like to see how you would react to a stranger invading your house. I doubt you would keep that same sentiment

[@jakefennell8319]

@@HakanTunaMuzik when it can take up to 6 months to find a rentable home, and it costs $450 a week for an apartment just in rent alone... plus another $1000 for bills and food, when minimum wage is $19 an hour and there's a job crisis. yes many youths DO need to squat to survive... ive been homeless and in that position before.

[@jakefennell8319]

@@evan3458 ive never seen a squatter just move into a house someone was sleeping in by definition it has to be uninhabited/abandoned for a person in it to be a "squatter".

[@terrywebster8862]

SQUATTING is basically HOME INVASION

[@williamthompson7060]

Florida just fixed this problem.

[@amechealle5918]

Time for the rest of the country to join in!

[@dixiecyrus8136]

Georgia just followed suit.❤

[@rockyhighwayroad7365]

That's not the way it is in florida. As a homeowner you can immediately kick out the squatter and throw him in jail

[@MrWolynski]

July 1st is moving day.

[@marcih6662]

Squatters can be murderers.

[@antistupid4712]

You mean murdered?

[@Bryan-Hensley]

So can home owners

[@whodidit99]

It has happened, just Google it.

[@deetee6118]

I just invited a motorcycle club over to have a party, didnt take long for the squatters to decide that leaving was a good idea, when they came back there stuff was in the front yard with garage sale signs

[@MagesseT1]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@aaaaaa2206]

Are you a folk tale teller or did this really happen?

[@rockstarofredondo]

@@aaaaaa2206people actually do this. They get rough-looking guys to move in and the squatters give up and leave.

[@Comm0ut]

@@aaaaaa2206 There are more than a few bikers who are landlords.

[@Bryan-Hensley]

It'll work, it's better to get someone like flash

[@cjames9320]

They're "squatters." No. They're burglars that never leave.

[@shii5795]

Burglars are vulnerable to lead poisoning.

[@lignow9762]

Find the judges/Da cottages ,then move in. See how well they stand up to these BS laws.

[@timeday6420]

lol and the police cheif

[@dennish411]

Brilliant idea

[@Madkalibyr]

I agree. Activists rarely take it to THEIR neighborhoods.

[@user-hy9gy9we3e]

Outstanding!

[@carriekassick7311]

Exactly! The people who make these judgements over and over against legal hard working citizens have no idea what normal life is like for the average person.

[@Kurtdog63]

We went to court over unpaid utilities with a tenant that lived rent free for two months. Not with the tenants, but with the utility companies. As the property owner, I wanted to get the utilities back in my name, but the utility companies would not put them back in my name until the delinquent utilities were paid by SOMEONE. The court ruled in our favor and told the utility companies they had to go after the delinquent tenants to recoup their electric and water costs. If the utilities had already been in our name, we would have had to pay them FOR THE TENANT to get them back on. Later we went back to check on the house, and some guy (a friend of the former tenants) was asleep in the living room floor. We called the police but he left before they arrived. Amazing.

[@notsure7874]

The cops will tell you "this is a civil matter there's nothing we can do" but when a news channel publicized one case, the police VERY quickly changed their tune to "if you sign an affidavit that they are not a tenant, we can arrest them right now" and they did. So this is literally police shirking their responsibility. They're too busy writing you traffic tickets to extort money out of you to do what their only legitimate purpose is. Also, get a friend in on it. Give them a lease, and when the squatter is out doing something - move him in. Install alarms, change locks, and put all the trash out on the street where it belongs. When the squatter comes "home" tell them to get the fuck off your property. If they call the cops, they'll have to tell Mr Squatter that "this is a civil matter, you'll have to get the courts to blah blah blah".

[@frankgriffin6293]

You need to treat squatters like criminals. I would have renovations going 24 hours a day.

[@MetallicMedium]

What the hell is the world coming to, when homeowners have to go to these lengths?

[@castlerc]

Glad I live in Florida. Thanks to our governor we don’t need to deal with squatters.👍

[@lambertlum1087]

Amen.

[@Madkalibyr]

I love that he’s passed these laws and changed things, If only my home state had one of his cousins or something :p

[@Bryan-Hensley]

Yeah right, that was a publicity stunt. The last part of the law ruins it. Squatters make up fake leases which will make Desantis law worthless.. I'm a landlord by the way.

[@Kohlerstacey]

That was the state house and state senate. He just signed it, but they passed it

[@Mk101T]

And the new law criminalizes property owners who would misuse it also .

[@DavdMar]

Have you thought about installing a hidden speaker that emits a high pitch sound that makes it too uncomfortable to stay there? It could come on whenever you leave the property as part of any alarm system

[@williamfowler616]

first of all if you call the police tell them they broke and entered your home, do not identify them as squatters, that will only give them rights, always refer to them as criminals not squatters.

[@robdog7516]

Are used to own a bunch of rental homes. I had tenants move out and I had people move in that had no lease on the property. I called the police and they wouldn’t do anything. They said it was a civil matter. I tried getting them to go to court, but they never showed up. The judge still would not evict them. The water and power and gas got turned off because I’ve never paid for the water, power and gas, even for the tenants living in the homes that actually had a lease. Within a week I was contacted by the Board of Health telling me that I had to turn the water power and gas on for the people that were living in my home illegally. The people did not qualify to get them turned on because they didn’t have a lease but the board of health didn’t care. If I didn’t i would be fined $10,000 a month. It took me 10 months to get them out of the house and they destroyed the house. It cost me $25,000 in damages and repairs. Of course, this is in California. Soon after i sold all my homes and will never rent to anyone in this state again.

[@zoso1123]

And i bet you vote democrat every year. Please stay in your failed state.

[@BashoStrikes]

My son-in-law had a rental that squatters moved into. We realized involving the system wouldn't work. So he gathered up a bunch of his buddies (they love to ride motorcycles) and we had a very legal conversation with the squatters. They were gone that night and didn't even take their stuff, which we openly offered to help them remove. Sometimes folks, you just have to be the larger lizard. After our conversation with these criminals, the law didn't matter to them, or certainly to us.

[@jaredwarner2451]

That would be my style. Absolutely no chance I’m letting people stay there and use the courts and legal system.

[@Curlyblonde]

Ornery dogs work well too. The squatters can't reason with them. They won't listen and don't care 2 growls about the law either. Two dogs are even better, one for each hand. Oh look! See Squatter run! 🏃 🐶

[@kristheobserver]

Castle Doctrine should apply to squatters.

[@MagesseT1]

🤣 Agreed!

[@sidwhiting665]

Once they leave, enter and change the locks. Now castle doctrine applies as normal in your state. You are in possession of your home. If they try to enter, that's B&E.

[@betsybarnicle8016]

Especially since they recently found that homeowner murdered and stuffed in a duffle bag by squatters.

[@debbest8546]

@@sidwhiting665 Be careful.....

[@Mk101T]

Castle doctrine only applies when inside your house , which you reside in .

[@fred8174]

Why can’t they be identified as trespassers; won’t they then be able to be arrested?

[@cjames9320]

Burglary, trespassing, and robbery

[@blipco5]

The cops don’t want to deal with them.

[@sidwhiting665]

Just show up with a couple of buddies with a "special delivery" in a big heavy box. Volunteer to carry it inside. Once you're in, plop down on the couch and refuse to move. It worked for the Greeks at Troy.....

[@gimpygardner3377]

I like that. You now have YOUR Furniture in the house.... you now live there.

[@4KindnessGal]

Oh really is that what happened? The BOX made them leave? I believe it was the SOLDIERS in the wooden horse.

[@denniscat9395]

a box filled with a thousand brown recluse spiders

[@SS-iw2nq]

@@denniscat9395That actually happened to a home owner. Someone on KZbin commented he went to a pet store then released tons tarantulas in his home with squatters. The squatters screamed and left immediately. 😂

[@chrisman714368]

They are squatters not tenants. In Florida they won't even get to stay there. Let the squatters take you to court after losing them out

[@dgsantafedave1]

Dude you got an update from Steve Lehto! Keep up the good work!

[@aldanovaico181]

Being an electrician, it’s easy to disconnect all the breakers, and physically remove all the breakers. Instead of cutting wires…. Preventing the double lugging of existing breakers.

[@aldanovaico181]

There is a downfall though, you can take the wires and touch them to the back distribution metal that is powered by the main breaker. So all wires touching it won’t have protection of breakers.

[@aldanovaico181]

Then that leaves the question of pulling the mains out which could be dangerous. Or you can cut the exposed wires to each line so that it’s a lil more work to re-skin and touch the main distribution metal backing of the panel that the breakers plug into. Or just rip the meter out on the outside of the house, dangerous too, and throw that in the garbage. lol…

[@aldanovaico181]

If you want to be sneaky, you could pull the main breaker feed wires. Cut the exposed wire one at a time safely, then put the insulated wire back in the mains. So it looks like they are making contact. You could do this at the meter too, and cut the tamper proof stamp off. Pull the load wires out. But careful you definitely need to know what you are doing. Don’t want to die for some b.s. a skilled electrician has a few ways to mess with people. It goes on and on what a person can do.

[@pstoneking3418]

Even simpler, pull the meter, remove the main service breaker, tape the incoming wires, and reinstall the meter.

[@pstoneking3418]

​@aldanovaico181 I like the idea: first pull the meter, remove the wires from the main breaker, insulating them with tape, and reinstalling them into the main breaker. Plug the meter back in.

[@sunny3264]

In NC, according to Google, squatters have to have lived in an abandoned property for 20 consecutive years in order to claim ownership of the house.

[@biff2k2]

That sounds like adverse possession, Colloquially referee to as squatters rights.

[@secondarydevice1767]

Wouldn't work for this type of squatter fending off the cops with fake leases, because possession has to be 'adverse' - which is a term of art that might be defined a little different by each state, but if you claimed permission to be there it's never going to work. Adverse possession is for truly abandoned properties. (you also have to be in obvious possession, ie not hiding)

[@sunny3264]

@secondarydevice1767 I see abandoned properties here and there where I live, but no one lives in them. Squatters should not have rights, period imo.

[@fedorpravov5372]

I don't understand the situation when a squatter goes to the judge to complain about turned off utilities. I think the judge is supposed to ask that person who he is. And how the squatter proofs that he belongs to that property at all.

[@80sDweeb]

How do you prove you have a right to your home? They will say that they have a lease. Then the judge will ask to see it. He will set another court date, in 5 weeks (if you are lucky) and then they will say that they lost it, but they paid. The judge will set another date in 5 weeks for them to show proof that they paid. Do you see how it works? Any time they want in the process, they can call the court and say they're ill, and the court will give them another court date in 5 more weeks. It could be 3 months each time, not 5 weeks, depending on the jurisdiction. It's not something you want to go through, even knowing that you are in the right. Flash's technique skips this, and puts them in the position of taking you to court. Now everything works in your favor, not the squatter's.

[@4KindnessGal]

You prove it by showing you are PAYING THE TAXES and PROOF OF YOUR MORTGAGE.

[@4KindnessGal]

@@80sDweebThey are RESPONSIBLE to PROVE they have a legitimate LEASE.

[@w8stral]

Vast Majority of cases the squaters go to month to month rental property, pay for a month and THEN squat ... Or pay first 2 months of a year lease and squat and go from place to place doing this.

[@rrmackay]

had a squatter in a travel trailer in the backyard, I unplugged the power and water and they freaked out of course. They called the cops and argued that I had to leave the power on. I explained to the cops that the trailer is self contained, they can generate their own power and it has a water tank, they have no need of my resources.

[@lw3269]

Astonishing that someone who breaks into your property has the nerve to call the cops about you turning off your own utilities. Absolutely batsh*t crazy.

[@LeeWilliams-ou4hi]

If you try this in Nevada the second you turn off the power you have just written the squatter a check for $1,500. + what the court will fine you. The only person who can touch the utilities on a squatter is the sheriff after a court order has been given. Check your states laws carefully.

[@JAYY_JAYY]

Well when you take into account what it’s going to cost for them to stay . It’s most likely a better option . How long do they want to live with no utilities?

[@GinaBrittCo]

Could you call a pest company and have the house fumigated?

[@user-ADHDvids]

Thats a great idea

[@user-ADHDvids]

That's a great idea

[@electricspark5271]

💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@playthatagainbruh394]

Omg lol

[@aldanovaico181]

lol- that would be funny as hell.

[@jdwalz]

Squatters should bear in mind that the most dangerous creature is a man with nothing to lose, and if you steal my house and sell my belongings and treasures, I have nothing left and nothing to lose. Sleep well, squatters.

[@MyndlusGaming]

You're much nicer than me. My AR keeps me squatter free.

[@michellebradley9634]

ABSOLUTELY AWESOME !!!😅

[@EazyDuz18]

you aint never killed anyone lmao wimp

[@tonyg6158]

If someone kicked in my door and came in. The gloves are off. I'm going to fight for my life. If someone moved into my house I would walk in with friends/bike gang and we would fight for our lives who ever wins, wins. You are not sealing from me without consequences. I'm old I got nothing to loose. I wish more people would be like me. Squatters would think twice before doing what they do specially to the old because we have nothing to loose.

[@_GandalfTheGrey_]

nowadays we have squatters by the millions coming from all sorts of foreign countries

[@user-hy9gy9we3e]

I agree!!!

[@jeffstone7912]

Is it possible to just watch the house or property and wait till the squatters to leave and then have a crew of people move their possessions out of the house in moving vans?. When they return and their shit is gone, they have less reason to stay there. Gee, I don’t know what happened to your possessions. It’s a bad neighborhood, people have been breaking into houses, and stealing things, and even squatting. LOL

[@appliedfacts]

Maybe the owner could just start living in the house with the squatters and be so obnoxious that they leave. Playing loud music 24/7, group parties, etc.??

[@deviadevmusic]

That’s you , this information is very helpful!

[@DMS20231]

I’d just remove 100% of their stuff and dispose of it, move in and then deny that they were ever there. How are they going to prove they were ever in the house at all?

[@penelopelgoss2520]

So long as they are gone long enough and they are consistently gone, yes. But otherwise, dogs and other people on the premises, it's harder than one may think!

[@ericseeger462]

Your Honor, I did not turn the utilities off! The utility companies did because the sqauters didn't pay their sqaut bill!

[@Suds649]

Large investors in rental properties want the average person not to be able to become landlords. Because the investors want to control the rental market prices. Individual landlords are competition and in a free market competition keeps the prices down.

[@thegreatbambino3358]

You ever heard of a lawyer actually propose changes to the legal system over this? Me neither

[@user-lw1pm8qi1h]

They will start lighting fires in your house and shitting without flushing.

[@alittlewheiser521]

All utility companies should ONLY turn the utilities on for the homeowner. Turning on utilities should require a Face ID AND signature from the homeowner that is listed on county property records.

[@penelopelgoss2520]

I had to go into SDG&E with my CDL and other docs to have my utilities turned ON!! I'm grateful, though it was a pain, I am grateful!

[@eviladm1n]

That FPE panel needs to be replaced. They are known for starting fires.

[@lindajohnson.]

If I ever have a squatter, I will call you!i wouldn’t go through the courts, this could take months. Sad that this is happening.😢

[@user-np5ke3wr2w]

Hey Flash new subscriber here keep up the good works my friend.

[@China-Clay]

Just subscribed, heard you on the radio, I had already seen a few videos, way to go!

[@FlashShelton]

Thank you

[@mancavemusician]

Superb work!

[@jond1965]

Put the utilities in their name. If they dont pay? Not on the landlord. This worked for me. This for renters who stop paying rent.

[@user-fb4mj9mi8d]

If you put it in their name now they established residences and you have to do a full evevtion.

[@jond1965]

@@user-fb4mj9mi8d thats why i said it works for renters who stop paying rent. I am not held responsible if they dont pay.

[@FlashShelton]

The point of this is removing squatters. We aren’t talking about tenants not paying their bills. If you can get squatters out quickly and you happen to end up paying a couple months of utility bills it’s a win.

[@jond1965]

@@FlashShelton i understand. Just making a point about lousy tenants

[@jond1965]

@@user-fb4mj9mi8d by putting it in their name you dont have to pay and the electricity etc. gets shut off

[@charlesbaldo]

Who is paying the electric bill? Why turn it off when you can have the utility company do it by not paying the bill.

[@Sassyquatch1020]

Soooo if someone breaks into my house, lays on the couch and when I call the police they just say “I’m allowed to be here I’m a squatter”, then… they can just stay!? I’m confused how this is legal!!

[@unnitocases4174]

When you say "get them out", do you mean the second they step foot out of the house? Or, get them to pack and leave?

[@FlashShelton]

Depends on the situation so all the above.

[@red7fifty]

Good stuff here!

[@lauriehayes4591]

When you cut the electrical wiring, what is involved with connecting them again? Are the wires too short to be used again?

[@jwigley3835]

I believe that's what he's intending. It's an easy cheap fix for him though or for an electrician. Most of the squatters don't know how to do that work.

[@electricspark5271]

As an electrician I would F my 💩 all up and just fix it later 😂. Not a damn thing would work once I'm done 🤣😅

[@sidwhiting665]

It'd be simpler to just pull the main breaker out of the box. Most folks are leery around electricity and/or won't know what to do to get the power back on. Worst case, hire an electrician to pull the service meter off the house.

[@PilotedRobots]

None of these measures solves the squatter problem though. All it takes to be right back where you started is to be away from your house long enough for someone to break in, change the locks, move some personal belongings in and then wait for you to return and call the cops who will only warn you not to try to "evict" the squatters yourself or you'll be arrested. That means no more vacations. No more overnight trips. The most you can be away from your house safely is a few hours and even then professional squatters are only going to get better at their game as time goes on.

[@ASKWildeHilde]

My brother-in-laws friend hired a contractor to remove all doors and windows in the middle of winter in Washington. squatters had already f'd the place up beyond recognition so 👏 👏 👏

[@veev2561]

How is it ok in a resodental to dquat, but not in a commercial one?

[@krylonkidd9539]

FLASH YOU ARE SOOOO AWESOME, SO MANY GREAT TIPS AND IDEAS I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT!! THANKS FOR ALL YOUR DOING TO HELP MAKE MANY WRONGS RIGHT!!❤❤❤

[@deviadevmusic]

Also I have people who isn’t paying rent for over 6 month , We are away from Los Angeles and now in Florida having hard time to come back because this people isn’t paying our rent , and we also can’t go to court to make them leave because this is was the only income the main income we had for over 8 years , if any one can suggest anything rather then paying at this moment to an atterney plese let us know ) thank you ! And another thing is that, both of this people come from airnbb But they did pay partly outside the airnbb

[@FlashShelton]

I’d still like to help you.

[@BeADad2447]

They are doing something illegal, take all the breakers.

[@dixiecyrus8136]

There's a professional squater buster and he's very successful ❤

[@DreamersNights]

As a note, at least in my region of VA, a licensed electrician is required to run wire to a breaker/fuse box. I don't know if this counts or not, god knows I've changed my share of burnt out breakers. I think running a wire from the power main to the box is what requires the license (don't hold me to that). Just a warning that the cost of re-wiring after killing the power legally (to code) might be a bit chunky.

[@appliedfacts]

Maybe the owner could just start living in the house with the squatters and be so obnoxious that they leave. Playing loud music 24/7, group parties, etc.??

[@penelopelgoss2520]

Turning off the water did NOTHING FOR ME. I was stationed on base in NM for two week duty time. A neighbor contacted me through my COC making me aware that a neighbor was having renovations done on their home and the crew was using MY utilities. They had hooked up hoses, and Jimmy rigged my electrical panel. I was allowed to leave the base on an emergency, and as I arrived home, the police were there to meet me. They cited and fined the two contractors on site and I watched as the water was shut off by the city and my electrical panel was returned. This happened 2x while I was away. I didn't go home the second time. I did contact the police and the city. I was assured by later notice that it had been handled. My electrical and water bills were through the roof. I contested, and the Police reports and filings lowed my bills to what they had been the time period before. I never spoke to that neighbor again. I left the state within a year. Eff the government to help with these people, SOMETHING has GOT to be done to protect the property owner. I have house sitters now. It's much cheaper than management companies!

[@JAYY_JAYY]

I am currently building a jr ADU in my house . I am installing styrofoam valves for water under house , also the sub panel will fed from main panel with lock on it . Therefore if any tenant doesn’t pay I’m shutting it off . Just like when they don’t pay the law enforcement will say it’s a civil matter and they can’t do anything. Well it works both ways . Me shutting off the water and electricity for non payment it’s a civil matter .

[@TheBaldr]

What about a bathroom remodel that removes the tubs, toilets, and sinks?

[@LiveFunOrDie]

Throw a party there for your local HA chapter to celebrate the $5K donation your giving them. Watch how fast the squatters disappear.

[@jackieleeh1]

I love your compassion towards other people.

[@alpin8447]

How about You @jackieleeh be compassionate and pay their rent

[@jackieleeh1]

I am so sorry, I did not intend to sound like I was on a squatter side and I was uncaring. I wasn't being sarcastic. What I meant is that you're have compassion heart towards children and the elderly about not letting them freeze by turning off utilities. I am NOT on the squatter's side. I do apologize if I came across sarcastic, but I said it as a compliment that you do have a heart, even though those people are squatters, leaving you to pay the bills. I do apologize for not making myself clearer.

[@alpin8447]

I am sorry I misunderstood your meaning😁

[@FlashShelton]

Thank you!

[@FlashShelton]

@jackieleeh1 I understood what you meant and thank you. I appreciate it. -Flash-

[@bigbadlee1]

Flash, what is your website?

[@patriciariddle2997]

I hope I never encounter squatters.

[@36ydna]

The danger with cutting things off is the measures that squatters will take to circumnavigate your actions, for example, if you cut off the water are they going to start using your bathtub as a toilet, or illegally start stealing electricity from the grid if you turn the electricity off.

[@prakashnmoorthy]

the fact that the US even gives legal protection to squatters talks volumes about how broken the legal system here is. I would avoid every state where squatters have more power than property owners.

[@edevos3108]

Squatter's Rights has been in place for CENTURIES and it is a holdover from old English Common Law ( just as the right to Bear Arms is--only difference is that the King doesn't have to grant that right here). The problem is that people have subverted the purpose of squatter's rights. That subversion began when the government told CERTAIN people that they could simply seize Indian land during the Land Rush of 1889 and SQUAT on it without paying anything to the rightful owners (The Indians). One cannot "squat" on property that is actually OWNED and not ABANDONED. So it's no surprise that some Squatters have a sense of entitlement and hubris today because that old Land Rush attitude is where this thinking came from. However, there is a LEGAL way to squat that hurts no one. 1. Find a truly abandoned property. I know how to do this (I am a property owner, not a squatter) because I researched it. But I am not telling anyone else how to do it because some idiots will abuse that information and do the wrong thing. Suffice it to say that just as there are abandoned storage lockers and abandoned items and money held by state treasuries (usually, the owners or occupants DIED and left no heirs), there are abandoned homes and land. In most cases, though, these abandoned places are terribly run-down, even collapsing, such that they are ruins of interest to very few people because of the cost of restoring them. 2. Do a Title check on the abandoned property to ensure that there are no owners or heirs. If the property is clearly posted or there are owners somewhere, give up on that property. Look for a place that is really abandoned. 3. Go and physically occupy that abandoned property. You could set up a tent, move an RV onto the property or otherwise establish occupancy there, but you must OPENLY occupy it without being secretive about it. 4, Spend your own money in repairing, remodeling or enhancing the property. You cannot be on welfare and use any government subsidy for this. You must work and SHOW that you are enhancing the property for your use. A farming or ranching operation is proof of enhancement as is erecting a barn or a house. 5. Stay on the property for at least 21 years, openly living there. Make sure that taxes on the property are paid. Then the property is yours through adverse possession. It's a very loooooong and drawn out process, but this process protects everyone by assuring that the Squatter acts legally. The people moving into these homes and quickly trying to take them over are NOT ACTING ACCORDING TO ANY LAW IN THE US. Legally, they are not Squatters. Even in states where there are squatter's rights, they are breaking the law. The problem is that the laws about occupancy of residential properties allow people to be deemed tenants if they have been there for 30 days or more. It is that LOOPHOLE that must be closed. True Squatter's rights laws directly specify that the owner must show NO INTEREST in the property for 20 years or longer and that the Squatter must openly live there and MAKE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS for 20 years or longer. For example, in Pennsylvania-- www.hemlane.com/resources/pennsylvania-squatters-rights/ Of course, suppose so-called squatters become tenants and the whole thing becomes a civil matter. In that case, TENANTS ARE SUBJECT TO THE LAWS THAT SPECIFY THAT TENANTS MUST PAY RENT, and that TENANTS CAN MAKE NO CHANGES TO THE PROPERTY WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE OWNER, so Owner's attorneys can easily argue in court that they owe rent and a security deposit for living there and that they can be charged for any changes or damages to the property. That "civil issue" stuff can cut both ways. New York is now trying to enact a law that modifies Squatter's Rights to say that a "Squatter" is never a tenant. I would go a little further. I'd say that any person illegally occupying an owned property is actually a burglar and subject to criminal penalties. Nevertheless, I believe that this law will solve the issue by instantly turning these folks into felons.

[@gimpygardner3377]

Like the video said, be very careful turning off utilities. However, if the utility company turns of gas, water or electric; the city should be able to Red Tag the house as unsafe, usually 24 hours to vacate. My town can and will arrest anyone on the property except for workers between 8am and 5 pm. No hot water is unsanitary, no heat even in the summer can be a reason for a Red Tag.

[@bwright6390]

I’ve heard about title theft insurance. I wonder if that is something worth while?

[@ericbrousseau2715]

I’m a master electrician and cutting the wires is stupid. How are you going to hook it back up when there out?

[@crazysquirrel9425]

Just call the utility companies and tell them to take the utilities out of your name. It is then on them when they turn off things. Many utility companies want to see a valid lease with the property owner before turning anything on. Squatters are trespassers. One could throw rocks and break the windows.... And ride your bicycle away QUICKLY in the middle of the night. Best to prevent the problem in the first place. About electricity - maybe rewire some of the panel to give 220 to lights and outlets?

[@woollyprimate]

When I started renting, I just called the utility companies. They didn't request proof of anything. Plus, squatters are known to phony up a lease.

[@crazysquirrel9425]

@@woollyprimate probably depends on the utility company I suppose. Where I am I have to show proof of occupancy (Lease or deed). Guess the local company got tired of being scammed? Squatting is one thing, but outright fraud is certainly a crime that police CAN do something about.

[@w8stral]

That NEVER works... how naive. Once tenants get utilities on it takes a YEAR +++ to get them off and if they make a partial payment they get another ~6 months. It is absurdly easy to get utilities on without a lease or anything, just call them up and often no questions are ever asked. You the homeowner have to actively go to utilites and tell them to NEVER turn anything on without a valid lease with YOUR signature and verify it with you or you will sue them.

[@duckwacker8720]

I would never go to court to get a home invader of my house.

[@edwardgold8097]

They will keep crapping in the toilet and it’s a pain to clean up afterwards.

[@googleuser-one]

If you move out or are on vacation it’s your right to turn off utilities … you never knew some intruders and criminals were living there.just like squirrels in your attic .

[@danielking2944]

If you have a Federal Pacific panel in the house you need to replace it with one that works. To let someone sleep in a house with defective electrical system might put you in danger of lawsuit. Those FPE breakers were junk when they were installed and it’s hard to imagine an insurance company would issue a policy on that firetrap.

[@grayrabbit2211]

Can you remove windows under the guise of getting replacement windows made? Getting new windows isn't that expensive and I can see 'removing the exisiting' for the window company to make new ones.

[@FlashShelton]

Yes you can file permits and start a renovation. In some states major renovation is a way to get Ben tenants out. You just can’t appear to be removing windows to remove squatters. Let them decide it’s a good idea to leave.

[@ladyocculus3525]

Didn't some squatters recently murder the homeowner somewhere? Just bringing that up since you brought up the "humane" issue.

[@lotsaspaghetticodejr.6488]

Don't cut your wires. Now you need to splice them. Disconnect them from the breaker, then open the pull through and feed the wires out. Be sure to mark them so you know what wire goes where when it's all said and done

[@Sassyquatch1020]

Could you file a restraining order against them? Especially in cases like the california food network guy.. he assaulted the women in the house. Could they file restraining orders?

[@CHOCKO895]

Cut all the neutral wires in the panel so you can actually have power still on but it’s useless

[@danielking2944]

That’s going to destroy just about everything 120v and could cause a fire hazard if something doesn’t fail quickly enough. Loose neutrals is the most destructive effect when power lines are damaged.

[@sharonpeterslehman7717]

Virginia are you listening and viewing Florida

[@shii5795]

I'm a 2A absolutist. I paid for my property. You know where my line of thought has gone.

[@user-fb4mj9mi8d]

I turned off the power on squatters off, only can do it, when there is a electrical emergency .

[@davewolfy.5932]

That's shat I did

[@electricspark5271]

As an electrician I can F some 💩 up and fix it if this happened on my property 😂

[@user-on5dl9hc2z]

Smashed electric meter at 3am be careful and aware of voltages.

[@stevep7346]

It wasn't an eviction, I just decided to repurpose the house into an apiary.

[@blipco5]

Worst electrician ever. 😂

[@estanford826]

What if one simply stops paying the bill!

[@4waj1214]

I shut off power, they had already broken water, had car towed, then had guy clean out garbage and whatever was left and taken to dump.

[@jacobkindsvatter4055]

I would quit paying the bills and let the power company shut it off

[@FlashShelton]

I don’t suggest that. Keep utilities on or they will be able to turn them on in their name.

[@ronoconnor8971]

Find the neutral bus, pull the wire, clip off the copper end, reinsert the white wire (only qualified people should ever open, or tamper with any electrical panel) tighten the neutral lug. No closed circuit, and you would need good diagnostic skills and a meter to find the problem.

[@TheKatiepoo2008]

'THEY ARE NOT RAPISTS ETC., ' YOU DO NOT KNOW THAT! The fact that they break into your property makes them criminals!

[@FlashShelton]

Correct, the crime at that time is not rape or murder etc. the truth is at this time what they are doing isn’t even a crime. But I prepare as if they are criminals.

[@JK-ld8cd]

so a burglar breaks into your house to rob you, and during the process police show up....Then the thief says im a tenant and refuses to leave.....is this a thing?

[@pedromolina9558]

So my mom was renting a room in her apartment in NYC, she was trying to squat, I kicked her out. The laws in this country won’t help tax paying citizens.

[@johnhonker437]

Enter your unit/house armed with a holstered firearm. Enter YOUR property, and then be surprised by the people who are breaking and entering.

[@crosisofborg5524]

Florida man just calls police. Squatters are now thrown into the street.

[@lavaunjohns7796]

In California a person can live in a home without electricity and can even run a generator but health and City codes will not allow them to live in a home without water. Anytime you can justify shutting water off for repairs or any other reason, that's the quickest way to get them out. So say a plumber states there's a water leak under the slab, well you can't have that now can you.

[@juangonzalez9848]

This is why you should have the utilities in the tenants name. That way it’s never the landlords fault things are turned off for non payment.