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What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: curious- ()
Date: February 05, 2009 05:03AM

I have been illegally living in a foreclosed home inf Fairfax for three months now without an eviction notice or police investigation. The neighbors know me, and, despite my illegal occupation, I am living here lawfully with electric and water bills paid. I have never known whom is the owner. I originally gained access to the house through an open basement window and have attached my own lock.

Is anyone familiar with the process in which I might be evicted, and or prosecuted?

Thanks everyone-

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: Junes ()
Date: February 05, 2009 05:47AM

When the law catches up with you, contact Vince, I'm sure he can help you find a "boarding house" until you find another empty foreclosure.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: Vince(1) ()
Date: February 05, 2009 07:06AM

Junes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When the law catches up with you, contact Vince,
> I'm sure he can help you find a "boarding house"
> until you find another empty foreclosure.


Do you enjoy these set up questions Junes? Questions that are just perfect for your FOX "News" response?

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: MrMephisto ()
Date: February 05, 2009 08:15AM

I agree with Junes, as long as you're black, hispanic, or a woman. If you're white, don't bother asking Vinke for help. He's a racist.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: 496 ()
Date: February 05, 2009 08:20AM

Lets clarify further. Vince will only support you if you are affiliated with a terrorist organization.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: Vince(1) ()
Date: February 05, 2009 08:55AM

LOL..you all feel better now? Your remarks have changed nothing...I am not the issue...the state of this country and the world are...and all you 3 can do is point the finger at me.

Hey Junes...you do come across as trying to have some substance to yourself...why not educate all of us with specifics on all the taxes fairfax county is wasting as they occur. Perhaps you have done so in the past and your genious has just escaped me...I will look for your new examples.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: NativeVirginian ()
Date: February 05, 2009 09:05AM

When the rightful owners of the property realize you are there they can start eviction proceedings. Then your credit will get screwed, other than that, not much.

It's very easy to steal a house, much easier than a car say. No one gets locked up for stealing houses.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: TomMadison ()
Date: February 05, 2009 09:11AM

NativeVirginian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When the rightful owners of the property realize
> you are there they can start eviction proceedings.
> Then your credit will get screwed, other than
> that, not much.

I thought that you had to be a legal tenant/property owner to be evicted. Wouldn't the police/sheriff just remove you as an illegal occupant? This seems like a case of theft of services which, in this case, would probably be a misdemeanor. Why would this have any impact on your credit?

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: MrMephisto ()
Date: February 05, 2009 09:36AM

Vince(1) Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> LOL..you all feel better now? Your remarks have
> changed nothing...I am not the issue...the state
> of this country and the world are...and all you 3
> can do is point the finger at me.

The issue is people like you that parrot other crackpots and try to make people think things are worse than they really are. It's the same tactic your Republikan enemies used for 8 years, but I suppose the irony of that will be lost on you.

Back to the original topic, I don't think it would be "theft of services" if he's paying for all the services he receives. Unless there's a specific anti-squatter law, I think the worst they could do is get you for trespassing.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: HIJACKER ()
Date: February 05, 2009 10:02AM

NativeVirginian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When the rightful owners of the property realize
> you are there they can start eviction proceedings.
> Then your credit will get screwed, other than
> that, not much.
>
> It's very easy to steal a house, much easier than
> a car say. No one gets locked up for stealing
> houses.


You're an idiot. The original poster can be charged with unlawful entry and/or trespassing.

Start eviction proceedings? He's not renting from the owners, he's squatting.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: Junes ()
Date: February 05, 2009 10:10AM

Vince(1) Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> LOL..you all feel better now? Your remarks have
> changed nothing...I am not the issue...the state
> of this country and the world are...and all you 3
> can do is point the finger at me.
>
> Hey Junes...you do come across as trying to have
> some substance to yourself...why not educate all
> of us with specifics on all the taxes fairfax
> county is wasting as they occur. Perhaps you have
> done so in the past and your genious has just
> escaped me...I will look for your new examples.


I already did - you were absorbed with your LaRaza chant at the time. Feel free to do a search - its in here somewhere.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: Junes ()
Date: February 05, 2009 10:18AM

MrMephisto Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Back to the original topic, I don't think it would
> be "theft of services" if he's paying for all the
> services he receives. Unless there's a specific
> anti-squatter law, I think the worst they could do
> is get you for trespassing.


If the owner vacated the house, it's probably owned by the bank. As long a curious is taking care of the property the bank will probably pay him.

At last count I heard the banks hold title to 850,000 foreclosed properties and have no intention of writing them off anytime soon.

You gotta love the oversight of the utility companies though when anyone can set up an account without a lease and no clue who owns the property (though the latter wouldn't be that hard to find)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/05/2009 10:19AM by Junes.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: MrMephisto ()
Date: February 05, 2009 10:21AM

Junes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You gotta love the oversight of the utility
> companies though when anyone can set up an account
> without a lease and no clue who owns the property
> (though the latter wouldn't be that hard to find)

The utility companies around here (Dominion, Washington Gas, etc) don't give a fuck as long as you pay them on time.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: Junes ()
Date: February 05, 2009 10:28AM

When someone catches up with Curious (if he really is a squatter) I hope he has a forwarding address for the utility companies.

Like you said, they don't care until you stop paying them. If not, how will he set up new accounts in his next squatter home?

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: MrMephisto ()
Date: February 05, 2009 10:41AM

Junes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When someone catches up with Curious (if he really
> is a squatter) I hope he has a forwarding address
> for the utility companies.
>
> Like you said, they don't care until you stop
> paying them. If not, how will he set up new
> accounts in his next squatter home?

Every time you set up service at a location, they create a new account. At least Dominion does.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: ferfux ()
Date: February 05, 2009 10:47AM

You'd be arrested eventually for tresspassing depending on the availability of the FX officers and wether they were dealing with Violent crimes or not

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: Junes ()
Date: February 05, 2009 11:14AM

MrMephisto Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> Every time you set up service at a location, they
> create a new account. At least Dominion does.


Yes, but each account has to have a name and social for the credit check. If you skip out on a bill, your account will be rejected. Of course, you can always buy some fake ID and run with that.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: MrMephisto ()
Date: February 05, 2009 11:24AM

Junes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes, but each account has to have a name and
> social for the credit check. If you skip out on a
> bill, your account will be rejected. Of course,
> you can always buy some fake ID and run with that.

If you're already a squatter, why not?

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: Welcome to the L4yer C4ke, Son ()
Date: February 05, 2009 11:37AM

Squatting is felony criminal trespass. It doesn't matter if bank owned or owned by a person.

Typical cases that I've seen in court result in 3-6 months imprisonment and restitution to the titleholder.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: dono ()
Date: February 05, 2009 11:41AM

curious- Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have been illegally living in a foreclosed home
> inf Fairfax for three months now without an
> eviction notice or police investigation. The
> neighbors know me, and, despite my illegal
> occupation, I am living here lawfully with
> electric and water bills paid. I have never known
> whom is the owner. I originally gained access to
> the house through an open basement window and have
> attached my own lock.
>
> Is anyone familiar with the process in which I
> might be evicted, and or prosecuted?
>
> Thanks everyone-

It takes years. Been a long time since I read the statute but I seem to recall it takes 7 years occupying the property, without interruption in an 'open and notorious' manner. I guess this is a sign of the times.

Why not contact the owner and offer to rent it if you like living there? Dont you feel badly about the fact that the cops are going to knock on the door one day soon and arrest you? Your stuff in the house is the owners by the way so kiss that goodbye.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: NativeVirginian ()
Date: February 05, 2009 11:45AM

All you need to do is come up with a lease that says you are a valid renter....then it goes to court to prove the lease is invalid. It's happening all over the country. The police can't make the determination that the lease invalid, the court has to. There have been articles in the papers regarding this very issue.

Now, if you TELL the cops that you are a squatter, that's a whole different story. But even if you don't have a valid lease, it isn't easy to get people out.

It's not that difficult in VA, but it does take some time and effort on the part of the owners.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: MrMephisto ()
Date: February 05, 2009 11:47AM

NativeVirginian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> All you need to do is come up with a lease that
> says you are a valid renter....then it goes to
> court to prove the lease is invalid. It's
> happening all over the country. The police can't
> make the determination that the lease invalid, the
> court has to. There have been articles in the
> papers regarding this very issue.
>
> Now, if you TELL the cops that you are a squatter,
> that's a whole different story. But even if you
> don't have a valid lease, it isn't easy to get
> people out.
>
> It's not that difficult in VA, but it does take
> some time and effort on the part of the owners.

... in which case, you should probably be moving on by the time the proceedings wrap up. Just in case.

Sort of like kiting your credit cards, except with houses.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: Rectumite ()
Date: February 06, 2009 02:44PM

Tom Madison is exactly right......you have no rights as a renter.
You are trespassing and will be locked up on site when the police arrive.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: Junes ()
Date: February 06, 2009 02:58PM

Rectumite Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Tom Madison is exactly right......you have no
> rights as a renter.
> You are trespassing and will be locked up on site
> when the police arrive.

Yeah, but the police aren't going to intervene unless there's a complaint.

If the bank owns the house and Squatter Joe is keeping it up (not selling the plumbin and fixtures on the front yard and keeps the yard tidy), who's going to complain.

Some bankers would be delighted to have an invalid tenant in the house. An empty house is a target. If targeted by the wrong people, won't be worth selling when the market turns around.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: Dart Drug ()
Date: February 06, 2009 03:05PM

Wait. An empty house is a Target? I do need to pick up some wine, bbq sauce, bacon bits and a Champion sweatshirt later on.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: Jane ()
Date: February 10, 2009 09:36AM

I believe Junes is right about keeping up the house etc. If Curious really is squatting, that's sad, but safer than shelters or other options. Perhaps Curious could get paid by the bank for babysitting empty houses. Not much mind you, free housing and perhaps a stipend. I wouldn't go around thinking that your doing a public service, but rather be humble about it, not that that's hard to do. Being homeless is pretty humbling. Try Findlaw.com

On a related note, does anyone have any HELPFUL information about loan modifications? I hear much about it on the news. Does someone just need to take what the bank is offering or can representation really help the homeowner work a better deal? Just this morning on GMA there was a story about NACCA working with homeowners to find their true net income, expenses and then work out a loan payment that "they can afford forever." I don't see the banks saying, "Ok thanks we'll take it."

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: Bull Conner ()
Date: February 14, 2009 10:06AM

The issue is people like you that parrot other crackpots and try to make people think things are worse than they really are.

Sort of like 'ol purple lips, the current POTUS, who talks about a "catastrophe" if his economic package isn't passed.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: crapper ()
Date: February 14, 2009 10:10PM

OMG! I squat when I crap...I never knew it was against the law. How is one supposed to crap here. I do not want to get deported for breaking the law. Any advice will be most welcome!


Welcome to the L4yer C4ke, Son Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Squatting is felony criminal trespass. It doesn't
> matter if bank owned or owned by a person.
>
> Typical cases that I've seen in court result in
> 3-6 months imprisonment and restitution to the
> titleholder.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: dono ()
Date: February 14, 2009 10:21PM

Bull Conner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The issue is people like you that parrot other
> crackpots and try to make people think things are
> worse than they really are.
>
> Sort of like 'ol purple lips, the current POTUS,
> who talks about a "catastrophe" if his economic
> package isn't passed.

Hey douchebag you aint seen nothing yet...

You remind me that just 5 months ago we had people telling us all the worry about the economy was unpatriotic. What a real idiot you must be.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: Bull Conner ()
Date: February 15, 2009 12:49PM

You remind me that just 5 months ago we had people telling us all the worry about the economy was unpatriotic. What a real idiot you must be.

It's amazing that a moronic dolt like you can remember five weeks ago much less five months. By the way asshole, your stupid post made no sense at all. You are really one stupid cum stain.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: dono ()
Date: February 15, 2009 02:58PM

Bull Conner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You remind me that just 5 months ago we had people
> telling us all the worry about the economy was
> unpatriotic. What a real idiot you must be.
>
> It's amazing that a moronic dolt like you can
> remember five weeks ago much less five months. By
> the way asshole, your stupid post made no sense at
> all. You are really one stupid cum stain.

Pictures probably work better for you:



or real 'red meat' for people like you my friend (click on the image to make this 'magic-picture' move)




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2009 04:29PM by dono.

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: dono ()
Date: February 16, 2009 09:23PM

Bull Conner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The issue is people like you that parrot other
> crackpots and try to make people think things are
> worse than they really are.
>
> Sort of like 'ol purple lips, the current POTUS,
> who talks about a "catastrophe" if his economic
> package isn't passed.




By the way, yours is a world we all aspire to. A world where people are not judged by their sex, the color of their skin or their nationality but rather the color of their lips...

your mind is pulp...

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: Logan ()
Date: May 28, 2012 10:53AM

squatting is actually called adverse possession, the requirements in virginia are:
15 years of uninterupted occupation

It looks like once you are there for three years you cannot be charged with a crime, but you don't get to keep the property.

It should be noted that i am not a lawyer and just did a quick scan of the va code. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+8.01-236

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Re: What are the Squatting Laws in Fairfax, and Virginia?
Posted by: Ten Toes in the Grave ()
Date: May 28, 2012 11:14AM

In all likelihood, the property's bank-owned. It has no idea what's happening with the house. However, at some point--could be next week, next month, next year--it's going to put the house on the market. At that time, it'll be discovered (by the listing agent and or the agent doing the BPO) that someone's in the house. They'll notify the bank which, in its slow and ponderous actions, will act. Probably by contacting a local lawyer, who'll contact the police regarding the squatter (unlawful entry, trespassing, etc.).

A neighbor certainly could call the police, too. But the neighbor doesn't own the house, so it'd be difficult for the police to determine whether the occupant was a legal tenant, a squatter, or a trespasser. It'd probably depend on the mood of the police at the time exactly how much they'd want to press the issue.

Note: Just because a squatter/trespasser is paying utilities doesn't mean he's living there "legally."

As I said, at some point the bank's going to decide to list the house. And at that point, the house of cards comes tumbling down. But it's impossible to say when that'll happen.

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