The State of Squatting in 2025

Squatting remains a growing challenge in the U.S., driven by housing shortages, economic pressures, and legal loopholes. Recent data highlights:

• 22% increase in reported squatting cases in 2024, with hotspots in Florida, Texas, and California (Pew Research, 2025).
• Avg. eviction timeline: 3–6 months, costing owners 8K–15K in legal fees and lost rent (Urban Institute, 2024).
• SFR vulnerabilities: 60% of squatting cases occur in single-family rentals, often due to lax monitoring between tenant transitions (NARPM, 2025).

4 Proactive Ways to Protect Your Properties

1. Automate Vacancy Monitoring

Squatters target empty homes. Use smart locks, AI-driven platforms or human monitoring to detect unauthorized entry or unusual activity immediately after a tenant moves out. Regular check-ins (e.g., vacancy checks, drive bys and utility usage alerts) add another layer of protection.

2. Streamline Tenant Screening & Lease Compliance

• Screen beyond credit scores: Verify employment, rental history, and eviction records.
• Digitize lease agreements: Include clauses that require tenants to report extended absences and grant permission for routine inspections.

3. Act Fast with Legal Safeguards

• Pre-file eviction templates: Work with local attorneys to draft jurisdiction-specific notices to expedite cases.
• Document everything: Use timestamped photos, communication logs, and lease violations to build airtight cases.

4. Build Community Watch Partnerships

Collaborate with neighbors, local police, or property watch groups to report suspicious activity quickly. In Florida, for example, a 2024 law allows police to remove squatters before a formal eviction if fraud is proven.

Why It Works

Proactive SFR managers who implement these strategies reduce squatting risks by up to 80%, according to NARPM. The key? Combining human monitoring, technology, legal readiness, and community vigilance.

Need Help Safeguarding Your Properties?

Showdigs helps with modern technology and boots on the ground—so you can focus on growing your portfolio.