North Carolina
Bill for expediting eviction of squatters clears North Carolina’s House Judiciary
(The Center Square) — Squatters in North Carolina could be evicted within 48 hours of a complaint by the property owner under a bill that was approved Wednesday by the Judiciary Committee in the House of Representatives.
House Bill 984 is sponsored by Rep. John Bradford, R-Mecklenburg County, a property management software company owner.
The legislation must clear the committees for finance and rules before it can reach the full chamber.
It will likely be amended along the way, Bradford told committee members Wednesday.
“Squatters are people that inhabit a piece of land or building where they do not have the legal right to occupy it,” Bradford said.
“They live on the property without paying rent and without lawful documentation that they own the property or are a rightful tenant.”
North Carolina civil law does not include a procedure for expedited removal of a squatter, the legislator said.
“This bill would permit a residential property owner to submit a complaint to a law enforcement agency requesting removal of an unauthorized person who has ignored the owner’s demand to leave,” Bradford said.
It would not apply to a tenant who has stayed at the property after a lease has expired, Bradford said.
After receiving the complaint, law enforcement would validate the complaint and then have 48 hours to remove the squatter, the legislator said.
The alleged squatter would have the option of filing a civil suit against a property owner if they believed they were falsely evicted, Bradford added.
“The Sheriff’s Association and the Chiefs of Police have some ongoing concerns regarding some liability,” Bradford said.
In order to assure consideration in a short legislative session, changes suggested by law enforcement will be made before the bill gets to the Rules Committee, he said.
“In the spirit of trying to keep things moving, we are voting on the bill as is,” he said.
“But I think it’s important to tell you that I continue to work with any interested parties.”
Bradford cited one landlord in his district who lost $15,000 in rent to a squatter.
“There was someone living there, and they couldn’t get him out,” the lawmaker said.
Trying to remove a person through a regular civil lawsuit could take months, Bradford said.
“I would say in urban areas it could be longer just because of the workload,” he said.
Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
Follow
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Fire crews are responding to a brush fire near Howard Gap Road in Hendersonville on Friday evening.
The fire is across the street from the Ebenezer Baptist Church and near the Highlands Square Shopping Center.
Henderson County Fire Marshal Glen Gillette said crews are fighting “blowdown from Helene.”
NEW WILDFIRES IGNITE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA FOREST AMID WORSENING DROUGHT
Around 11 p.m., the fire appears larger than it did an hour ago because crews are backburning, which refers to using fire to help control the wildfire.
Dana Fire Department Chief Jimmy Womack said that what was a 3-acre fire an hour ago will be an 8-acre fire due to back burning. He said the fire is 80% contained.
Womack said the cause of the fire is unknown, but one of the conditions contributing to the blaze is the Helene blowdown.
“There’s a lot of blowdown in these woods behind us. That’s what creates most of the problem,” said Womack.
Womack said there has been no property damage and no injuries have been reported for this fire in the woods that 24 personnel are fighting. They got the call to arrive at 6:05 p.m.
LOCAL NEWS
Dana Fire and Rescue and Henderson County Fire Department are supporting the U.S. Forest Service with this fire.
Glen said no structures are threatened at this time and Howard Gap Road is closed.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (1)
This story will be updated as new information is discovered.
-
Entertainment1 minute agoKarol G at Coachella was a global hit. Yet other foreign acts fear touring the U.S.
-
Lifestyle7 minutes agoL.A.’s unofficial Statue of Liberty is a Fashion Nova billboard off the 10 Freeway
-
Politics14 minutes agoOrdered free, still locked up: Judges fume as Trump administration holds ICE detainees
-
Science20 minutes agoA renewed threat to JPL as the Trump administration tries again to cut NASA
-
Sports26 minutes agoAfter 55 years as a broadcaster in L.A., Randy Rosenbloom is leaving town
-
World38 minutes agoBulgaria votes in eighth election in five years
-
News1 hour agoReal estate investors are buying up long-term care facilities. Residents can suffer
-
Detroit, MI3 hours agoFormer Piston shows Detroit what they’re missing as he dominates next to LeBron