You Don’t know Squat

In a post-pandemic world, more potential residents are opting for self-guided apartment tours. No-contact key tours are available at numerous properties and provide less work for Property Managers, who already have a high workload. However, people are finding ways to hack the system and occupy a vacant apartment, also known as squatting. Another strategy squatter’s use is making copies of the keys before turning them in at the end of their lease. While squatters might think their tactics and motivation are in support of housing affordability, it’s doing the opposite. Any unnecessary financial burden on rental property owners negatively affects their bottom line. Trying to get a non-rent paying resident out of their property forces them to increase rent for the rent paying residents not to mention the cost for damages.

Currently, squatting is not illegal in North Carolina or South Carolina. However, South Carolina State Senator Dwight Loftis (R-Greenville) introduced S.1231, which would create a criminal penalty for a person who unlawfully trespasses upon a residential dwelling and intentionally damages the dwelling causing $1,000.00 or more in damages. The bill is currently in committee and South Carolina Apartment Association members lobbied lawmakers for a committee hearing. North Carolina lawmakers are drafting similar legislation and are working on the bill language.

Thankfully, our state lawmakers recognize the dire situation rental property owners are in if they don’t make squatter behavior illegal. This trend is affecting numerous industries worldwide and it’s the business owners who financially cover the expense. Local rental property owners are doing their best to address Charlotte’s housing affordability problem but accepting squatters isn’t in their budget.