When it comes to understanding legal concepts, knowing what an occupant means is an important part of the process. An occupant is someone who has taken possession of a property. This could be either through legal tenancy or as a squatter. It covers a range of people including tenants, landlords, boarders, and so on.
What Is a Legal Tenant?
A legal tenant is someone who has a contract with the owner of the property. This agreement is called a lease, and it defines the terms of the tenant’s occupancy as well as any rights and obligations between the tenant and the landlord. It is important to note that only a landlord or property owner has the authority to create a lease.
What Is a Squatter?
A squatter is someone who has taken possession of a vacant property without the owner’s permission. Squatters do not have the same legal protections as a tenant, and they can be sued for possession of the property. In some cases, the squatter may be able to establish a claim of adverse possession that allows them to stay on the property and establish their legal title. This usually requires them to have been physically present on the property for a certain number of consecutive years and to have met certain other legal requirements.
Occupant Rights
No matter the type of occupancy, all occupants have certain rights. Most states provide some kind of tenant protections including the right to live in a safe and habitable environment. Squatters also have some rights such as the right to peaceably possess the property. There are also laws in each state to protect tenants from being quickly evicted without due process.