LANSING — Legislation has been introduced by Rep. Steve Frisbie, R-Battle Creek, to make it easier for property owners to evict squatters. It is titled the SHIELD (Safeguarding Homeownership and Interests Through Eviction Law Development) Act.
This bill aims to “create a streamlined process for removing squatters from real property – commercial or residential,” Frisbie said.
It outlines how property owners can file a complaint about squatters on their property. It also includes the consequences a squatter can face if the complaint is validated by a county sheriff.
“Squatting is taking up residence in a property and living on the property without the owner’s permission,” according to “Michigan Communities and Squatting: What You Need to Know,” a guide by the Michigan Municipal League. “Squatting is also called ‘illegal occupancy,’” it says.
“Squatting is a problem as it can potentially bring down property values and increase neighborhood crime,” according to the Municipal League.
On the other side of the aisle, Democrats have drafted legislation they say would overhaul Michigan’s property owner-tenant law and strengthen renters’ rights.
Part of that package would give tenants two weeks instead of one to catch up on overdue rent before the landlord can file a summons and complaint in court.
Democratic sponsors include Reps. Amos O’Neal of Saginaw, Karla Hope of Holt and Brenda Carter of Pontiac.
The GOP squatter bill aims to create a faster process for removing squatters by avoiding court proceedings, its backers say.
Currently, property owners must go through a court process to obtain an eviction order.
The bill would allow owners to take squatting complaints directly to the county sheriff, who can order unlawful occupants to leave after verifying property ownership. The complaint must attest that the occupants are not owners facing foreclosure or former tenants at the property.
Property owners or squatters who falsify documents could face penalties.
A similar bill was introduced by Rep. Ken Borton, R-Gaylord, in 2024, according to Frisbie. It would have also allowed property owners to file a complaint with their sheriff and request that squatters be removed from their property.
The SHIELD Act has 30 co-sponsors, including Republican Reps. Tim Kelly of Saginaw, Borton, Mark Tisdel of Rochester Hills, John Roth of Interlochen and Greg Markkanen of Hancock.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
