Full question:
I am half owner of a home and sole owner of the land on which it sits. I recently helped to evict a person who was staying there (off and on--no consecutive days). He called the state police who informed him he has squatters rights. My daughter (who is the other owner of the home) has started an eviction process and a PPO. We removed all his belongings and he has found other living quarters. He however has a vehicle of a questionable nature in my garage. Is there squatters rights in this case? Can he come into the home at his leisure to look for other property as he has threatened to do? What are my options as far as the questionable vehicle goes? The eviction and PPO are being processed.
- Category: Abandoned Property
- Date:
- State: Michigan
Answer:
In Michigan, squatters' rights typically apply when someone occupies a property without the owner's permission for a certain period. However, since you are actively evicting the individual and have initiated a Personal Protection Order (PPO), his rights may be limited. He should not be allowed to enter the home to retrieve belongings, especially if you have already started the eviction process.
Regarding the vehicle in your garage, Michigan law defines an abandoned vehicle as one that remains on private property without the owner's consent. Since you do not consent to the vehicle being there, you can have it removed as an abandoned vehicle. You should contact a local towing agency to take custody of the vehicle. The towing agency will notify the police, who will check if the vehicle is reported stolen and proceed according to the law (MCL 257.252a).
Ensure you follow the proper procedures for notifying the towing agency and the police to avoid any complications. If the previous occupant contests the vehicle's removal, they may request a hearing within 20 days of being notified. If they do not contest it, the vehicle may be sold after a specified period.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.