Illegal occupation of land can take place in two ways – One, and this is scary. Squatters can forge documents pertaining to the land and then pose a threat to you – saying that the real owner does not have any legal rights to the property in question. Such people are generally thugs who resort to such tactics to prevent someone from true ownership. The owners are then forced to sell off the property through a distress sale. Such incidents have been known to have taken place with the help of local authorities – in cahoots with the fraudsters.  Second, is when a tenant of the property tends to overstay forcefully due to there being poorly set up contracts and a lack of adequate checks and balances.

HOW DO YOU PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY

The first rule is important. Maintain perfect documentation. This will help you prove your legal right to the property whenever needed. Documents such as title deeds, copy of the will (if any), original purchase agreement and sales deed, electricity bills, water bills, telephone bills etc.; all these will help to prove legal right of the owner to the property.