Squatters continue to plague US homeowners with no end in sight.
Homeowners across the US are facing lengthy and expensive legal battles to regain control of their properties from squatters. Real estate lawyer Jim Burling warns that any unoccupied home can be a target for squatters, who can take over a property and claim to have signed a lease and paid rent. The police are unable to determine who is telling the truth, and the court process can take six months or longer. Squatting has also been an issue in the Pacific Northwest, where the homeless crisis has resulted in encampments on abandoned properties.