While “squatting” is not considered a large problem in the State of Ohio, it has become an issue in the city of Cleveland in vacant and abandoned homes. While squatters occasionally can be removed simply by reporting the unauthorized occupancy to the county sheriff's office, often times, squatters present or claim a lease or valid tenancy, in which cases, sheriffs’ offices decline to enforce removal. In such cases, homeowners then must bear the burden, time and expense of filing a formal eviction action in the local municipal court. However, that may soon change.
House Bill 478, sponsored by republican lawmakers Jeff LaRe and Jay Edwards, and the nearly identical House Bill 480, sponsored by republican lawmakers Tom Young and Steven Demetriou, seek to end squatting and the sale of fraudulent deeds, as well as to expedite and ease the process of removal of unauthorized occupants in the State of Ohio. Both Bills seek to amend section 2909.07 and to enact sections 1923.16 and 2913.53 of the Revised Code by removing the required use of the court system in eviction of unauthorized occupants.