Here’s my story about dealing with squatters and how I resolved the situation quickly without involving the courts.
I live in a small rural town of about 200 people, roughly 100 km away from a major regional city. My partner and I were looking forward to a 4WD camping holiday to Cape York Peninsula with four other couples who are close friends. My neighbor joined us, but his wife, who isn’t into camping, stayed home. We planned to be away for about four weeks.
Halfway through our trip, we stopped in a town with phone reception, and I was flooded with missed calls and messages. My neighbor’s wife had been trying to reach me, saying that two adults and a child had moved into my house. When she asked who they were, they claimed to be friends of the owner but couldn’t provide my name.
I contacted a friend who’s a police sergeant. He confirmed that the squatters had moved in, unloading furniture into my house. When asked for proof of a rental agreement, the man became defensive and stated it was a civil matter. He even threatened to claim squatters’ rights. The police couldn’t evict them and advised me to be cautious if I decided to act.
After discussing options with my friends, we devised a plan that the sergeant agreed was legal but warned us to follow strictly. We decided not to rush back immediately but cut our trip short by a few days to handle the issue.
Once home, we camped on my neighbor’s property, about 100 meters from my house, to observe the squatters without confrontation. After three days, they all left in their car, likely to shop or run errands. One of my friends discreetly followed them to ensure they weren’t nearby.
Once the house was empty, we acted swiftly. We removed all their belongings and placed them on the roadside. I secured my driveway with a heavy chain and parked a tractor at the entrance to block access.
When the squatters returned, they were furious. The man tried to claim squatters’ rights, but I informed him I was the owner. He called the police, but my sergeant friend arrived and flipped the situation, stating it was now a civil matter. The squatters had no legal ground to re-enter my property.
They tried to accuse me of throwing their belongings out, but my friend had dashcam footage proving they were elsewhere at the time. The police dismissed their claims and issued them a ticket for overloading their trailer. Eventually, they left town, with the police following them to ensure they didn’t cause trouble elsewhere.
My advice:
- Wait until the squatters leave your property before taking action.
- Remove their belongings carefully and secure your home immediately.
- Document everything and involve a trusted police officer if possible.
This approach was far quicker and cheaper than going through the courts. I’ve since learned to always have someone house-sit while we’re away. And yes, I have the best friends and neighbors anyone could ask for!
