Squatters in Utah: Couple Found People Living in Their Home

Problems with Squatters in America 

There have been several stories nationally and locally about the problem with people illegally squatting in vacant homes. States where there are strong laws to protect renters have become havens for those who move into a place without a rental agreement. 

In Utah, the law is more particular about when people can live on someone else's property. This article details Utah law in this area. But there are still problems with people moving into a place and how long and what it costs for the owner to evict them as described by what happened to this couple originally from Layton, Utah. 

2 ½ Months of Hell  

Cristy and her husband (she asked me not to use her last name) had a small home they rented to a single woman in the Layton area. The renter paid her rent the first month, but then began to miss. When they visited the home, they found the woman was gone, and a group of people had moved in. 

When they went to the authorities, they were required to file paperwork to have them evicted and there was a fee to file it. The people had 30 days to leave the property. “Well, after the 30 days if they don’t move out, you have to do it all over again,” said Cristy.  

Another fee was paid to file more paperwork and then a fee to have a police officer deliver the paperwork to the squatters. After another 30 days, she and her husband had to leave a vacation during the 4th of July weekend to be there when the policeman escorted them out of the home.  

The Nightmare Didn’t End with Them Leaving 

“You as the homeowner are responsible for all of the stuff they didn’t take,” said Cristy. “And that includes all the garbage.” She describes soiled carpets, bags of rats and heaps of diapers and refuse that they had to clear out. 

In the end, Cristy and her husband repaired the home and got out of the rental business. Obviously, even though Utah hasn’t had as many instances of people moving into a home illegally, it is still a problem.  

Read More: Out-of-State Crime Rings Targeting St. George

This happened in 2016 and she wasn’t aware of any changes to the laws since then. Cristy said something has to change. “You could go to work, and somebody could break into your house today and they have more rights than you do."