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If squatters are such a problem, why don't landlords just hire house-sitters to occupy their un-leased properties? (twitter.com)

submitted 7 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

There would be a few interesting legal hurdles to overcome. Being classed as tenants grants them certain rights, if they are employees they have certain rights, etc etc.

Also effectively you would need tennants who can vacate at the drop of a hat who wouldnt trash the place and dont have location dependent jobs. If your paying these people a living wage, it would never work as a business model. Maybe retired people with motorhomes, or wfh professionals who can always move back into their parents place if the supply of available properties dries up.

I'm sure you could do it, but it wouldnt be easy.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

… it would never work as a business model.

Maybe such a free market solution just lacks a problem. In other words, maybe squatters aren't really a big deal in the first place.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Its a problem in the sense that it happens rarely but theres some absolute horror stories. I can see why some people might want the house taken care of by a live in caretaker until they can rent it or move in.

The US federal minimum wage for someone for 24hrs 7 days a week is like $1200ish dollars a week, but you're providing housing but not in a traditional sense, but they would be expected to do basic maintenance chores, then who pays the utilities?, etc, etc.

Im just saying that the idea is viable but you would have to do a LOT of legal legwork on a state by state basis to keep everything fair and above board for all parties.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

Housesitting is already a thing, but what makes this context different is the open-endedness of it. To make it work there would probably have to be a bonus payment for successful move out after agreed upon notice and extra for short notice. The landlord might also have to provide basic furnishing so that the caretaker can moveout more easily when a proper tenant comes along.