Wild video shows a Texas homeowner confronting a squatter who broke in through the window of his new San Antonio home, while the intruder’s accomplice stands outside and attacks the homeowner. He told the people that they had a right to the land.
After Abram and Judith Mendez bought a fixer-upper, they hired an acquaintance to complete the tile work and created a contract that allowed the man to stay in the house for a short period of time. Now they say he won’t leave.
“The squatters have broken into the house again through the window,” Yudith can be heard saying in the couple’s dramatic video. Share with News 4 San Antonio And it was published on Monday.
In the video, the man is seen straddling the window of the couple’s home while the woman stands outside.
“He has rights. I will show you his rights,” the woman answered Yudith before exiting through the window.
Abram showed the police a handwritten contract signed by the squatters, telling them they could do the tile work but needed a place to stay for a few days.
In the contract, the man agrees to complete the job and leave the house. Instead, he tore apart the front room and barricaded the entrance while refusing to leave, the couple say.
“I think it’s been a month today,” Abram said. “And he already had the long game in mind.”
The man is asserting squatter’s rights, but Texas attorneys told the agency that the requirements for a squatter claim, which would allow the man to take ownership of the property without the owner’s permission, were not met. He said he did not meet all the requirements.
Someone can claim adverse possession in Texas if: “Color of title,” meaning possession of real property with a valid claim for at least three consecutive years. They occupy the property and have the deed recorded in their name, pay all property taxes and farm the land for at least 5 consecutive years, or they farm the land for at least 10 consecutive years. Occupying real estate and improving the land.
Therefore, although the man may be considered a squatter, he cannot claim illegal possession of the property.
The Mendez family says they plan to move forward with the eviction.
“The intent behind adverse possession is to reward those who manage and put the property to good use,” said San Antonio attorney Knoll Bryant. “It’s not designed to reward bad behavior.”
Squatters have been a hot topic across the country in recent months since Florida’s new law abolishing squatters’ rights went into effect.
In New York state, after a squatter has lived on the property for 10 years, they can claim the legal right to continue living on the property without the owner’s permission.
However, in New York City, being on the property for 30 days is enough to assert squatter rights.
