What Texans need to know about squatter’s rights

SAN ANTONIO – Squatter’s rights have dominated national headlines in recent weeks. Here’s what property owners need to know about those rights and how to get a squatter removed from their property.

A squatter is someone who occupies a property without legally owning it or having permission from the property owner. They often move into vacant, abandoned, or neglected properties. The policy was introduced so land wouldn’t be wasted. People could claim corners of large properties and improve them, so the government would grant them ownership.

Over time, squatters can gain what’s called adverse possession, allowing them to gain ownership of a property, even without the owner’s permission.

But there’s a long process to do that, and someone can claim adverse possession in Texas only if they meet certain sets of requirements.

They are laid out in Texas. Prop. Code 16.024-16.026:

• Occupy the property with color of title for at least three consecutive years.
• Occupy the property, have a recorded deed in their name, pay all property taxes, and cultivate the land for at least five consecutive years.
• Occupy the property and improve the land for at least ten consecutive years (note: the land must be less than 160 acres unless it is enclosed).