RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - State Rep. Tim Rudd, R-Murfreesboro, has taken a decisive step to support commercial property owners in Tennessee by introducing House Bill 216, aimed at streamlining the eviction process for illegal squatters. The proposed legislation seeks to ensure that hardworking property owners can reclaim their space without enduring prolonged legal battles.

This initiative builds on a previous law championed by Rudd, which established an expedited eviction process for homeowners facing unlawful occupants. “Tennesseans work hard to be able to own commercial real estate, and bad actors should have no path to hijack that land,” Rudd stated. He emphasized the need to protect the integrity of property ownership and the health and safety of surrounding communities.

House Bill 0216: Real Property - "As introduced, creates a legal process through which a person may request the immediate removal of an unlawful occupant of the person's commercial real property by filing a complaint with the sheriff for the county in which the property is located." - Amends TCA Title 29 and Title 66.

The new House Bill outlines specific conditions for the immediate removal of squatters. To qualify for expedited eviction, the property owner or an authorized agent must demonstrate that the squatter entered the premises unlawfully when it was not accessible to the public, that they have previously instructed the squatter to vacate, that the squatter is neither a current or former tenant nor an immediate family member of the owner, and that no pending litigation exists between the two parties.

Once these conditions are verified, the property owner must submit a complaint to the local sheriff. Following this process, the sheriff can issue a notice to vacate and arrest squatters for trespassing or other legal infractions.

Before Rudd’s previous anti-squatting law takes effect on July 1, 2024, property owners could spend up to two years and incur significant expenses in legal fees and property maintenance while attempting to remove illegal squatters. House Bill 216 aims to protect commercial property owners from similar frustrations by offering a quicker resolution.

Rudd, who represents House District 34, which includes part of Rutherford County, is confident that this legislation will safeguard property rights and support legitimate landowners across the state. Read complete verbiage of House Bill 0216 HERE.