Landlords often do not know what do when they find their property inhabited by squatters. Squatters are homeless people of any age who have chosen to live in abandoned or uninhabited buildings without any legal permission. Unfortunately, some landlords react by attempting to remove squatters forcibly from their property. This is this against the law and is also dangerous for both parties involved. Squatters do have rights that must be respected, even by the property owners. For the most part, squatters are not malicious. They are simply people who have found themselves in unfortunate situations where inhabiting an abandoned house is their best form of shelter. Sometimes, having squatters actually benefits a house in poor condition as occupants usually look after the property they find. In cases like these, the landlord has the option to work out an agreement with the occupants; in most cases, however, landlords find squatters a nuisance.

Evicting squatters is a dreaded matter among landlords. Unless the property owner can make peaceable re-entry or the squatters leave voluntarily, the eviction process can take months. What begins with an eviction notice must be completed with a possession order from the court. Squatting is a lifestyle that exists all across the globe, and rights of landlords and their unlawful occupants vary from country to country. In some countries, squatting can lead to adverse possession. This is when landlords lose possession of their property if it has been unlawfully inhabited for a period of months or years. If a landlord does not want to lose his or her property, a swift eviction is crucial.

In the UK, if a landlord cannot coax the squatters into leaving and needs the house to be empty in a matter of days, he or she takes out an interim possession order. This procedure commands occupants to leave within 24 hours, however, most cases can be handled within a few weeks. In the US, squatting matters vary from state to state. Some states are more supportive to squatters rights, and others outline this behaviour as strictly criminal. Depending on where a landlord lives, he or she should first try to remove the squatters peacefully. If this does not solve the situation, it is best to find legal advice on the matter as quickly possible. Even though evicting squatters may appear to be an overwhelming ordeal to landlords, the procedure can be straightforward when approached with the right information and a little bit of tact.