LAWMAKER PROPOSES AMENDING THE SERVICEMEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF ACT TO PROTECT TROOPS FROM SQUATTERS

It is common knowledge that military families travel a lot. When someone in the military needs to be stationed in a different location in the United States, adjusting can sometimes be hard for families.

Some military families have to deal with squatters when they go back home, as they take over their homes while the military families aren’t present. This is why the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act is being amended to protect troops from state laws that give squatter rights to take over their homes.

What Is the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act?

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCFA) is a federal law that was announced in April 2022. The act provides validation to the professional licenses of service members and military spouses who had to relocate because of military orders.

As long as the license to work is still valid, this law helps those traveling for military reasons get a higher chance of finding work in their new home. This is also an act that postpones or suspends certain civil obligations to enable service members to devote their full attention to duty and to relieve stress on their families.

This act applies to the following servicemembers:

• Active duty members of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard;
• Members of the Reserve component when serving on active duty;
• Members of the National Guard component mobilized under federal orders for more than 30 consecutive days or
• Active duty commissioned officers of the Public Health Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Although it is still being amended, lawmakers are in the process of ensuring that troops are protected from squatters taking over their homes.

Squatters Taking Over Military Homes

There are ongoing reports that when service members return to their homes after deployment, they find squatters taking over their homes.

“I can’t think of many things worse than finally coming home after a tour of duty, only to find a trespasser camped out,” said Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., “There’s plenty to worry about when you get home. Evicting someone shouldn’t be on the list.”

Varying laws have given them squatter rights, which allow them to claim ownership of a property if it’s open, unoccupied, and their stay is continuous.

Mast has proposed a bill that states that any law that gives rights to squatters shouldn’t apply to properties that service members own.

“My bill defends service members, puts their interest first, and stops government protection for squatters invading their homes,” added Mast, an Army Veteran.

Extra Benefits Provided by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act

While this doesn’t include squatters illegally taking over military families’ homes yet, it also primarily provides licensing assistance for military families changing states and other benefits available.

The most notable are the credit card debt and interest rate benefits. According to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act website, those in active military status are entitled to multiple protections. The most important is a six percent interest rate on credit card debt and other loans. In the past, banks have gotten in trouble for not following this, but it is a federal law that must be abided by.

Protect Your Properties

With this law going into effect, it is important to spread its awareness to military families who move around constantly and come back home to their properties being taken over by someone else.

It’s important to understand that there are different types of squatters, as most people assume squatters are just homeless people looking for shelter. As military families constantly move, it’s also important to take protective measures to avoid squatters. One way to ensure this is to be aware of the activities around your home. You can hire a property management company so you can have someone keeping an eye on your property.

This can be difficult to deal with, but with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act being amended, military families can be protected from squatters taking over their homes.

Read next:

• Time to PCS? Be Sure to Lean on Your Military Sponsor
• What Can Movers Legally Take as Deposit During a PCS Move? How to Avoid Scams
• Everything You Need to Know About Military PCS Pet Reimbursement

Sources:

• Lawmaker Aims to Protect Troops from Squatters