Squatters have fewer rights in Idaho now. Governor Little signed House Bill 321 Tuesday that adds a new section to the current law, making it easier to toss people out who are staying where they’re not welcome.
The legislation is often called a “squatters bill” in other states. It allows the lawful owner of a residential property to request the Sheriff take action, and it makes it easier for the Sheriff to do so.
The bill says ”existing remedies regarding unauthorized persons who unlawfully remain on residential real property fail to adequately protect the rights of the property owner and fail to adequately discourage theft and vandalism. “
There are eight specific criteria that must be met before the Sheriff can remove someone from the property. Among other things, it must be a residential property and the unauthorized people are not current or former tenants.
It also makes it a crime to falsely request the Sheriff toss someone from the property if you’re not the actual property owner. If a squatter advertises the property for sale or rent with no legal authority, that’s now a felony as well.
