Community hopes that signs will shame landowners into action

Webster, Mass., is intending a brand new method of keeping squatters out of their deserted buildings. In a try to conserve at least some of the $9,000 per year spent on checking out deserted properties, the city is going to be purchasing large signs. The hope is that signs will disgrace the owners into doing something with the property.

Webster throwing away money on squatters

Like most cities in the United States, Webster has laws that building owners must keep their properties maintained. Since the downturn, large buildings in town have been abandoned though. The buildings are going into disrepair, and squatters are taking up residence in many of the buildings. The city of Webster is spending almost $1,000 a month sending law enforcement officers to these deserted buildings to kick out squatters and survey conditions.

What Webster will do with buildings

Instead of sending law enforcement officers to abandoned buildings, the city council of Webster has chosen a new enforcement method. The city could be posting 4-by-8-foot signs outside deserted buildings. The building owner's name, phone number and address can be placed on all of these signs. Hopefully the landowners could be called to come clean up property or home and keep out squatter by passer bys.

Do not forget about squatters' rights

Squatters' rights are being seen used more often recently in Massachusetts, and other states. Squatters are starting to claim real estate since there have been a lot more properties deserted. The squatters' rights in Webster Mass., are not easy to get. It takes a long time. There has to be 20 years of "adverse possession," or living without permission on the property, before it becomes their property. While law enforcement across the nation spends millions trying to evict squatters, some question the wisdom of this move. The home might be taken care of by the squatters in it. Having squatters may help the neighborhood. Property or home values would increase. At the exact same time, having squatters in a home or building could make selling the property or home, if and when it is foreclosed on very difficult.

Citations

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/41849729/ns/us_news-weird_news/?gt1=43001

Legal JustAnswer

justanswer.com/law/0hit8-tell-squatters-rights.html

Legal Dictionary

legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Squatters+rights