A Squatter Occupies My Texas Home Now What?

February 7, 2023 by Blake DeWitt

In most cases, a person can’t just set up camp on your property and then have a legal right to remain there forever. When it comes to Texas squatter’s rights, however, the laws are different. There are certain circumstances in which a stranger can indeed acquire a legal right to stay on your land or in your home.

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If you’re a homeowner in Texas with unoccupied property, you have certain rights available to you. It’s in your best interest to learn more about uninvited long-term Texas guests and how they could impact your rights. Learn more about what you need to know below.

What is a Squatter Exactly?

First of all, you might want to know what is a squatter in Texas, exactly? A squatter definition applies to a person who begins to reside on an abandoned property without any legal rights to do so. While the uninvited guest(s) originally begin without any rights, they start to acquire them over time if the homeowner does not take action against them. The Texas squatter rights outline the exact qualifications a person must meet before the squatter definition applies.

Texas Squatter’s Rights: What to Know

Texas squatter’s rights outline how a person without a legal claim to a property can eventually gain possession of it. If you’re a property owner, then your best course of action is to regularly inspect your properties to ensure no uninvited guests are residing on your land. If you fail to do so, then you could lose your rights to your land. This is especially true if the uninvited guest(s) attempts to make a claim for the land and you do not take action.

Can You Sell a Home with a Squatter Inside?

So, what happens if you’re a property owner seeking to sell your home with an uninvited guest problem? Can you still sell it?

In a nutshell, the answer is yes. In order for the squatter to obtain legal rights, they’ll have to start paying taxes on the property. Since it’s unlikely they’ve done so, you can take action to evict the squatters through law enforcement actions. First, you’ll want to legally serve a 3-days eviction notice to the squatter. You can have law enforcement serve this notice.

In some states, squatter rights 30 days notices are provided to uninvited person/people. This gives the person 30 days to vacate the property. Texas squatter’s rights, however, only give the uninvited guest(s) 3 days to either pay the full rent it costs to live on the property or leave.