AUSTIN- Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Taxpayer Protection Project released a groundbreaking research paper on the state of squatting in Texas. “In Texas, removing squatters is a lengthy and expensive problem that undermines private property ownership and, in many cases, leads to rising crime and public safety threats,” said TPPF’s James Quintero.
Here are the key points of the research paper:
- Squatting involves commandeering other people’s property for one’s personal gain on either a short-term or long-term basis.
- The process of removing a squatter can take months, thereby depriving the rightful property owner of a home or residence until the matter is settled.
- New state laws are needed to statutorily define squatting, increase criminal penalties, and expedite the eviction process.
- Absent state laws that properly define squatting, establish criminal penalties, and empower property owners with a streamlined eviction process, squatting will remain an issue.
In addition, TPPF has also released the latest episode of our Here in Texas series telling the story of Terri Boyette, a Texas resident who had squatters in her house and the grueling ordeal she had to go through to get her property back.