What Are Squatter Rights In Big Sky Country?

The Price Of Housing In Montana Gets Higher Every Day

The other day my daughter and I were talking about being a renter in this current climate here in Montana. Both of us have decent landlords, but we are in constant fear of our homes being sold out from under us, or the rent being raised so high that we're forced out.

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Seriously, the price of rentals is NUTS right now, all over the state, all over America. People (landlords) can say whatever they want about it, but when something costs 3 times to rent as it did LITERALLY 3 years ago, it's not the economy, it's greed. My landlords and her landlords aren't like that, but they are SO the exception to the rule anymore.

We're Both In The Market For Homes

So before you jump in with "buy your own whatever then", we're both house hunting. The price of homes is almost as ridiculous as the price of a rental. If you bought your home before 2020, you really really need to stay out of this conversation.

You Don't Hear A Lot About Squatters In Montana, But It's A Thing

My daughter brought squatters up, and I can't believe we don't hear about it more. Even on the show "Only Murders In The Building", one of the main characters, Mabel, ends up squatting in an apartment because she can't find/afford any place to rent.

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What is the definition of a squatter?

From Merriam Webster:

"Squatter

a: one that settles on property without right or title or payment of rent

b: one that settles on public land under government regulation with the purpose of acquiring title"

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What IS NOT a squatter? Tenants with expired leases or trespassers

There ARE squatters laws and squatters rights in Montana, but, it's hard to win if you're a squatter.

Squatters Rights In Montana

From Innago:

"To make a successful claim for a property based on Montana’s adverse possession law, a squatter must meet the following requirements:

Occupy the property continuously for at least five consecutive years
Pay property taxes for at least five consecutive years"

As you can see, Montana has made it very very difficult for a squatter to come in and take your property from you. Difficult, not impossible.

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The best way to make sure that no one comes in and squats on your property is to keep it up and visit regularly if no one will be occupying it for awhile. To get a squatter out of your property is just like evicting a bad tenant.