If you own property in Florida — especially in certain parts of Tampa — you’ve probably heard about the issue of squatters. For us at Out Fast Property Management, this isn’t just theory; we manage properties everywhere and this is a concern, especially on vacant units. We’ve dealt with attempts where people try to get into vacant units, and we even have alarms installed there. When that alarm goes off, we’re immediately checking on the property, contacting the police, and making sure no one is moving in without permission.

Most of the time, these are clear cases of trespassing, and law enforcement can step in right away to remove anyone who doesn’t belong there. That’s why we’re proactive: the key is preventing anyone from staying long enough to try to claim residency.

But here’s what every owner should understand — if someone manages to stay long enough and starts claiming they live there, things get much more complicated.

Florida law has a concept called adverse possession, which, in very simplified terms, means a person who openly occupies a property, pays property taxes, and meets other requirements over a continuous seven-year period can attempt to claim ownership. Usually we can get the police to kick them out right away, but if someone moves enough belongings in, or provides a fake lease to the police, it can become a civil matter where we have to go through the normal 4-6 week eviction process.

That doesn’t mean squatters easily gain rights to your property, but it does mean that property owners can’t ignore a situation or let it drag on. In some cases, if someone claims they live there, police may refuse to remove them and say it’s a civil matter — requiring owners to go through a legal process called an unlawful detainer action. That process can take time and cost money.

This is why we take securing vacant properties so seriously. We want to stop trespassers before they can even begin to claim possession, because we know how quickly things can escalate if a property isn’t being watched closely.

If you’re a property owner in the Tampa area, especially if you have a vacant unit or home, here’s what we recommend:

• Check on your property regularly. Don’t leave it unattended for long stretches of time.
• Install proper locks and consider security systems or cameras.
• Post “No Trespassing” signs. This helps law enforcement act quickly when needed.
• Work with a local property management company (like us!) that understands these risks and knows how to respond fast when something happens.

At Out Fast Property Management, we deal with this firsthand — and we understand how important it is to act quickly, keep properties secure, and make sure squatters don’t get a foothold.