I’m not saying that the squatters aren’t doing something illegal, I’m asking who you want to distinguish between a legal renter and illegal squatter, and how you want them to do that. Right now it’s supposed to go through the court. But the courts are backlogged.
You own a house. You discover a squatter has been there. You call the police to kick him out. They show up and the guy says he’s renting it. What do you want the cops to do at that point? If you say “kick him out while it gets sorted out” then you’re going to be doing the same thing to legitimate renters.
What is it you want changed other than fixing the courts so it gets resolved faster?
It's pretty simple, actually.
If the squatter paid rent and has a signed lease then they shouldn't get booted just for missing 1-2 month's rent. There should be protection to help prevent greedy/asshole landlords from booting them and making them homeless.
But most cases of squatting involve people who are trespassing. They don't own the property. They have no leasing agreement to be there. In what world do they have any rights? If I come home and there's a total stranger here, telling me they won't leave, then one of us will get carried out, possibly in a body bag. Squatters trying to take up residence in this manner are no different.
Only in the mind of a liberal would the obvious differentiation not be clear.
