California must tackle the growing problem of squatters | Opinion

California has a squatter crisis. Across the state, property owners are facing illegal takeovers of their properties. Due to inadequate legal frameworks, their hands are tied while squatters exploit a system that protects criminal trespass.

I know this because I’ve lived through it myself. While managing a single-family home in a student area in Chico, a routine three-month vacancy between tenants spiraled into a nightmare. Squatters broke in, changed the locks, presented a fake lease and exploited gaps in the law that turned a clear break-in into a “civil matter,” leaving police powerless.

Over four months, the property was vandalized, linked to shootings and overdoses and used to extort other occupants, all while the legal process dragged on. By the time the squatters were finally removed after months of court proceedings, the damage totaled $20,000–$30,000, a future tenant was lost and the squatters had moved on to the next house down the street.

This is a pattern playing out in communities across California, from the Bay Area to North Hollywood to the suburbs of Orange County. Newly-vacated homes are being occupied by strangers who drill out the locks, produce forged leases and deceive neighbors. Some individuals even file false legal documents to cloud a property’s title or attempt to collect rent from unsuspecting third parties while posing as the legitimate tenant.

When law enforcement is called, they lack the proper authority to intervene in what is inaccurately classified as a civil matter. This forces owners to go to court to regain use of their lawfully owned property, where the eviction process for removing squatters can take 11 to 12 months and cost tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees. In the case of rentals, the property is not generating income, may be actively damaged and, in many cases, becomes a magnet for criminal activity.

In a survey of more than 750 rental housing providers across the state, approximately 9 in 10 said squatting is a major issue. In the same survey, organized by the California Rental Housing Association, more than 80% of respondents reported that they, or someone they personally know, have been directly victimized by squatters, highlighting how widespread and personal the issue has become.

California’s current legal framework makes all of this possible. While squatting is technically illegal here, the moment an occupant claims tenancy, however fraudulently, the matter shifts to civil court, and the clock starts ticking on a process that systematically favors delay.

California also has one of the shortest adverse possession timelines in the country: Squatters who occupy a property for five consecutive years while paying property taxes can claim legal ownership. Even though there is not currently a specific bill moving through the Legislature to address these gaps, that absence makes action more urgent — not less.

Other states have moved decisively. In 2024, Florida passed legislation that makes squatting a criminal offense and gives sheriffs the authority to remove squatters directly. Georgia enacted the Squatter Reform Act, requiring anyone accused of squatting to produce proof of legal tenancy within three days or face arrest. New York clarified that squatters are not to be treated as tenants at any point. Indiana, Utah, Mississippi, Arkansas, Montana and several other states enacted expedited squatter removal processes just last year alone.

This is not just a property owner issue, it’s a housing supply issue; every home tied up in a squatter dispute is a home that is not available to a renter who needs it. In a state that already has one of the worst housing shortages in the nation, allowing the legal system to facilitate months of delay before an illegal occupant can be removed makes the problem measurably worse.

Responsible property owners should not be penalized for following the law while those who break it are granted months of de facto occupancy at the owner’s expense. Addressing squatting is not about politics, it’s about restoring basic fairness, safety and accountability.

Theresa Haney is a California real estate broker, certified property manager and professional consultant based in Chico. With more than 20 years as a housing provider, she focuses on practical solutions that support both property owners and tenants to create stable, sustainable housing communities.