The term "squatting" refers to someone who illegally lives in a dwelling without paying.
On top of that, squatters often destroy the house in the process, said Phelps — especially once the owner begins taking steps to have them removed. Several factors are driving the increase in squatters today, said Phelps. "I’ve seen walls destroyed, wires and pipes cut, toilets filled with cement …" "When you couple that with the lack of accountability that’s become more common lately, it’s easy to see why [people] feel emboldened to walk in and take over a property that isn't theirs," he added.Squatting is becoming more common, said Phelps, so property owners are more likely to encounter squatters — and they’re more likely to encounter the ones who are going to cause even bigger problems.
"I’ve seen walls destroyed, wires and pipes cut, toilets filled with cement and so many other devastating actions taken that cost the property owner thousands of dollars to repair," Dr. David Phelps, a financial expert based in Dallas and founder of "These areas, like California and New York, for example, are problematic because their policies actually encourage squatters by not taking action to curb these crimes," Bell continued.