Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has pledged to prioritize legislation addressing squatting reform this year. This follows a surge in reported incidents between homeowners and squatters, spurring demand for stricter legislation across the country.
Newsweek contacted Abbott’s office, state Sen. Paul Bettencourt and state Rep. Angie Chen Button for comment by email on Tuesday.
Why It Matters
The national conversation around squatting has grown over the past year, fueled by incidents reported by homeowners across the country who struggled to evict squatters or lost their properties to adverse possession claims.
The case of Terry Boyette in Mesquite, Texas, shook the Lone Star State: she was homeless for 11 months during the long process of evicting a squatter who had occupied her home while she was helping her sick parents. During those months, Boyette paid utilities, taxes, homeowner’s insurance and mortgage payments so as not to lose her rights to her home; when she took back control of it, the property was so damaged that she couldn’t immediately move back in.
Boyette recalled her experience at a Senate hearing on squatting in May calling for a review of state laws related to squatters and the creation of faster legal processes to protect property owners.
What to Know
During his State of the State address on Sunday, Abbott said that “the increasing problem that we face in the state caused by squatters” must be addressed in the 89th legislative session.
“Private property rights are a cornerstone of our values and our legal system,” he said.
“It is against the law to live or stay on somebody’s property without their permission. We need stronger laws to immediately remove and prosecute squatters in Texas,” he added, as the audience applauded.
Texas State Sen. Paul Bettencourt—who held the May hearing on the problem—and State Rep. Angie Chen Button, both Republicans, are working on reforming squatting laws in the Lone Star State and have thanked the governor for making the issue a priority.
Is Squatting Legal in Texas?
Squatting—occupying someone else’s abandoned or unoccupied property without a legal right to do so—is illegal in the U.S. and squatters can normally be evicted for trespassing. Legally, they must be removed by a law enforcement officer with a valid court order.
However, squatters have protection under federal and Texas laws. Under the Texas Squatters’ Rights, a squatter can claim possession of a property through adverse means. In order to do so, they must have physical possession of the property; they must prove they haven’t been hiding their presence in the property; they must have occupied the property exclusively; and they must have lived in the property for an uninterrupted period between three and 10 years, which depends on the circumstances of the squatter.
After three years of continuous living in a property, a squatter can establish a so-called color of title, which allows them to file an adverse possession claim. After five years, they can file an adverse possession claim if they’ve paid property taxes and cultivated the property’s land. After 10 years, the squatter can file an adverse possession claim without any of the previous requirements.
How Big Is The Problem?
While squatting is a relatively rare problem at the national level, the issue has gotten more attention over the past year—and can be extremely tiring and stressful for property owners.
A 2024 survey by the National Rental Home Council (NRHC) found that Dallas was one the cities with the highest number of homes taken over by squatters, together with Atlanta and Orlando. According to the survey, an estimated 475 homes had been occupied by squatters in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
What People Are Saying
Chris Newton, executive vice president of the Texas Apartment Association (TAA) said in a statement shared with Newsweek: “Squatters and others who take advantage of current law threaten housing availability, affordability, and community safety.
“We appreciate Governor Abbott’s leadership in making this issue a priority and thank Senator Bettencourt and Representative Button for championing efforts to pass meaningful reforms. These reforms will streamline the eviction process, reducing unnecessary delays and ensuring a fair, efficient system that protects both property owners and residents.”
Bettencourt wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Glad to see legislative action against Squatters on the list of ‘to dos’ by Gov. @GregAbbott_TX and @TXAptAssoc’s strong support! Looking forward to working with Rep @AngieChenButton on filing a strong anti-squatting bill in both chambers of the #txlege.”
Button wrote on X: “I’m looking forward to working with @TeamBettencourt to help address squatting. It was great to hear @GregAbbott_TX name this issue a priority because it not only threatens community safety, it impacts housing affordability and availability.”
James Quintero, policy director at the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), said in a statement released last month: “In Texas, removing squatters is a lengthy and expensive problem that undermines private property ownership and, in many cases, leads to rising crime and public safety threats.”
What’s Next
In 2024 Bettencourt said he wanted to introduce a bill during this year’s legislative session that would define squatting and create criminal penalties, as reported by NBC5 DFW. The Republican senator also said he wanted to speed up the handling of squatting cases at Justice of the Peace Courts.
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