NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Tim Rudd, R-Murfreesboro, has introduced legislation to protect owners of commercial property in Tennessee from lengthy eviction processes for illegal squatters. House Bill 216 will allow for the immediate removal of squatters on commercial property if certain conditions are met, building on a previous law Rudd passed creating an expedited […]
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Tim Rudd, R-Murfreesboro, has introduced legislation to protect owners of commercial property in Tennessee from lengthy eviction processes for illegal squatters.
House Bill 216 will allow for the immediate removal of squatters on commercial property if certain conditions are met, building on a previous law Rudd passed creating an expedited eviction process for lawful Tennessee homeowners.
“Tennesseans work hard to be able to own commercial real estate and bad actors should have no path to hijack that land,” Rudd said. “Squatters on commercial property are violating the law and threatening the public health and safety of surrounding communities. We have worked hard to ensure this doesn’t happen to homeowners in Volunteer State, and this legislation will provide a process for legitimate owners to quickly remove illegal trespassers from their commercial property as well.”
To immediately evict an illegal squatter from commercial property, House Bill 216 will require the person requesting removal to be the property owner or an authorized agent; the squatter to have unlawfully entered when the property was not open to members of the public; the owner to have previously directed the squatter to leave; the squatter to not be a current or former tenant; the squatter to not be an immediate family member of the owner; and there to be no pending litigation between the owner and squatter.
House Bill 216 requires a property owner to complete and submit a complaint verifying each of the above conditions has been met to the local sheriff. The sheriff could then serve a notice to vacate to the squatters and arrest violators for trespass, outstanding warrants or other legal causes.
Prior to Rudd’s previous anti-squatting law taking effect on July 1, 2024, it could take up to two years to remove an illegal squatter and cost a property owner thousands of dollars in legal fees, lost revenue, and property repairs. This legislation seeks to provide similar protections for owners of commercial property.
State Rep. Tim Rudd represents House District 34, which includes part of Rutherford County.