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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 11, 2024 03:44 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Martina A. White |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Removal of Illegal Squatters from Residential Property |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation to help the police remove illegal squatters from residential properties. The legislation will address situations where a person discovers that there are people illegally living in a house or an apartment that they own and they call the police to have them removed, only to be informed that there’s nothing the police can do to help them. If the trespasser claims to own the property or to be a lawful tenant, the police typically decline to get involved because they don’t know who to believe. Typically, in these situations, they advise the owner to pursue a legal eviction action, which can be a financial and legal nightmare. Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon situation, especially in Philadelphia. My bill will give a sheriff or deputy sheriff, if they have probable cause to believe that a person is trespassing on residential property, the authority to remove the person from the premises. Police must allow a reasonable opportunity for the person to secure and present any proof they may have that they are on the property legally before removing them. Probable cause may be based on a signed affidavit from the property owner stating, among other things, that the person is not and was not in the past a tenant, and that the owner has demanded that the person vacate the premises. This bill does not affect and is not affected by landlord-tenant disputes. Further, any property owner or alleged squatter making a false statement can be held criminally and civilly liable. This legislation is similar to my HB 823 from last session. Please join me in cosponsoring this important legislation. |