Legal Definitions - squatter

A squatter refers to an individual who occupies land or property without the legal right, permission, or title from the owner. Historically, the term also applied to a person who settled on public land under government regulations that allowed them to acquire ownership upon fulfilling specific conditions.

• Example 1 (Illegal Occupation of Private Property): A large, abandoned warehouse in an industrial district has been vacant for over a decade. A group of individuals, seeking shelter, breaks into the building, sets up makeshift living quarters, and begins to reside there without the knowledge or consent of the property's registered owner.

  Explanation: These individuals are considered squatters because they are occupying private property (the warehouse) without any legal claim, lease, or permission from the rightful owner.

• Example 2 (Illegal Occupation of Private Property): A landlord owns a rental apartment that has been empty for several months after the previous tenant moved out. One day, the landlord discovers that someone has moved into the unit, changed the locks, and is living there without having signed a lease or paid any rent.

  Explanation: The person occupying the apartment is a squatter, as they have settled on private property (the apartment) without the owner's permission, a legal agreement, or any right to reside there.

• Example 3 (Historical Legal Occupation of Public Land): In the mid-19th century, a settler family moved onto a tract of undeveloped federal land in a frontier territory. They built a log cabin, cleared land for farming, and lived there for several years, intending to meet the requirements of the Preemption Act to eventually purchase the land from the government at a low price.

  Explanation: In this historical context, the family would be referred to as squatters because they settled on public land with the government's implicit allowance, aiming to acquire legal title by fulfilling specific conditions, such as improving the land and establishing residency.