Connecticut Squatters’ Rights & Adverse Possession Laws - 2025

byHemlane

What are Squatters' Rights in Connecticut? Squatters' rights, also known as adverse possession, refer to a legal claim allowing people to gain ownership of a property that they have occupied continuously for a statutory period. In Connecticut, this period is 15 years.
To make an adverse possession claim in Connecticut and gain legal ownership, squatters must meet specific requirements
Actual Possession
They must physically occupy and live on the property for the entire statutory period. Simply visiting or storing belongings does not qualify.
Open & Notorious Possession
The occupation must be obvious and known to the legal owner and community. They cannot hide their occupancy.
Exclusive Possession
Squatters must possess the property exclusively, without permission from the legal owner. Sharing possession with the owner disqualifies the claim.
Continuous Possession
Squatters must live on the property continuously for the full statutory period, in this case 15 years. Any gap breaks the continuous possession.
Hostile Possession
"Hostile" means occupying the property without permission from the legal owner, not actual hostility or violence. The owner must not have given them permission to live there.
In addition to meeting these adverse possession requirements, Connecticut squatters must pay property taxes, make visible improvements, and otherwise act like owners to eventually claim legal ownership.
How Long for Squatters to Claim Adverse Possession in Connecticut? In order to make an adverse possession claim in Connecticut, squatters must occupy the property continuously for a statutory period of 15 years. This means that the squatters must use the property openly and exclusively, without permission from the legal owner, for 15 complete and uninterrupted years.
The 15 years is strictly enforced in Connecticut adverse possession cases. If the squatters' occupation is disrupted or halted at any point before the 15 years are up, then the clock restarts. Even a temporary absence could undermine a future claim, unless the squatters take reasonable precautions to secure the property during their absence.
Overall, the continuous possession requirement sets a high bar for adverse possession claims in Connecticut. Squatters cannot come and go as they please and still expect to take ownership. To meet the 15-year threshold, they must maintain actual, exclusive, continuous possession of the property for the entire statutory period. Requirements to Claim Adverse Possession in CT. For a squatter to successfully claim adverse possession in Connecticut and gain legal ownership of a property, they must meet several specific legal requirements over the statutory period of 15 years
Actual Possession
The squatter must physically occupy and live on the property. Occasional visits or stopping by the property do not qualify as actual possession.
Open & Notorious Possession
The squatter's occupation of the property must be obvious and known to the public. They make no attempt to hide the fact that they are residing on the land.
Exclusive Possession
The squatter must be the only one in possession of the property. Sharing occupancy with the owner, tenants, or others would break the exclusivity requirement.
Hostile Possession
The squatter's occupation must be against the rights of the true owner and without permission. There's no valid claim if the owner granted them a license to be there.
Continuous Possession
The squatter must reside on the property for the entire statutory period without any extended gaps or abandonment of the property. In CT, it's 15 years of continuous possession.
Paying Property Taxes
Paying property taxes helps strengthen an adverse possession claim by demonstrating the squatter acted as the true owner.
Making Improvements
Making upgrades like renovations, additions, repairs, landscaping, etc. can help satisfy the "open and notorious" requirement and show the squatter is maintaining the property as an owner would.
The squatter bears the burden of proving all these elements to make a valid adverse possession claim in Connecticut. If they cannot definitively show each requirement, their claim will likely fail. Property owners can prevent claims by monitoring their property and asserting their rights. How Property Owners Can Prevent Adverse Possession. Connecticut property owners have several options to prevent squatters from gaining adverse possession rights to their land
Secure the Property
Make sure all entry points like doors and windows are properly locked and secured. Consider installing fences, gates, or other barriers to restrict access. You may also want security cameras or alarm systems.
Post No Trespassing Signs
Place highly visible "No Trespassing" signs around the perimeter. This makes it clear the property is private and not open to the public.
Visit Regularly
Frequently check on the property, at least every few weeks. Look for any signs of unauthorized entry or occupation. Your presence helps demonstrate ownership.
Rent Out the Property
Having tenants or renters is one of the best ways to prevent squatters. Their legal right to occupy makes it much harder for squatters to make a claim. Even occasional short-term rentals can help.
Taking these proactive measures allows owners to monitor their property and stop adverse possession claims before they begin. Don't let your vacant land or buildings become a target for squatters seeking to take possession. Consistent ownership activities reinforce your property rights.
Steps if Squatters Occupy Your Property in ConnecticutIf you find squatters occupying your property in Connecticut, you will need to take legal action to have them removed. Here are the key steps
Serve a Notice to Quit
The first step is to serve the squatters with a written notice to quit, which gives them a specific deadline to vacate the property, usually 30 days. This provides them official notice that they are being asked to leave.
File an Eviction Lawsuit
If the squatters do not leave by the deadline on the notice to quit, the next step is to file a summons and complaint for eviction in your local court. This initiates the formal eviction proceedings.
Obtain a Court Order
You will have to go through the court eviction process, which may involve mediation and a trial. If the judge rules in your favor, you will receive a court order directing the squatters to vacate the property.
Have the Sheriff
Remove the Squatters If the squatters still refuse to leave after the court order, you can arrange with the sheriff's office to have them forcibly removed. The sheriff will come to the property and remove the squatters and their belongings.
The entire eviction process usually takes 2-3 months in Connecticut if the squatters contest it. It's important to take action quickly if squatters occupy your vacant property, so they don't try to claim adverse possession rights. Having them legally removed preserves your rights as the property owner.
Can Police Remove Squatters in Connecticut?In Connecticut, police cannot simply remove squatters from a property whenever the owner requests it. There is a legal process that must be followed to evict squatters:

• The property owner must first serve the squatters with a notice to quit, which gives them a specified period of time to vacate the property, usually 30 days.
• If the squatters do not leave after the notice period expires, the owner can file an eviction lawsuit against them in court. This begins a formal legal proceeding to remove the squatters.
• After hearing the case, the court will issue an eviction order if the owner is successful in proving their claim. The court order formally requires the squatters to vacate the property.
• With a court-ordered eviction in hand, the property owner can then request the assistance of law enforcement to physically remove the squatters if they still refuse to leave willingly.
• At this point, police have the legal authority to escort the squatters off the premises, with force if necessary. The squatters would be subject to arrest for trespassing if they return after being evicted.

So in summary, yes the police can remove squatters in Connecticut, but only after the property owner receives a formal eviction order from a court. Police do not have inherent authority to remove squatters on their own without this legal due process.Tenant Rights if Accused of Being SquattersTenants have important legal rights if a landlord wrongly accuses them of being squatters in Connecticut. A tenant cannot simply be removed or locked out of a rental property they are lawfully occupying, even if the landlord believes they are trespassing.
Tenants have the right to proper advance notice before any eviction process can begin. In Connecticut, landlords must provide a Notice to Quit, which gives tenants at least 3 days notice before starting eviction proceedings.
Tenants also have the right to contest any eviction lawsuit filed against them. If a landlord files for eviction, the tenant can appear in court and explain they are legal tenants, not squatters. The court will require the landlord to provide evidence the tenants are not lawful occupants.
Tenants should never have utilities shut off or face any attempts to forcibly remove them without due process. A landlord must go through the full eviction lawsuit process and obtain a court order before tenants can lawfully be removed from a property.
If a landlord does improperly force out tenants believed to be squatters, the tenants can sue the landlord for illegal eviction and recover damages. The tenants may also be able to move back into the rental unit.
Tenants who receive accusations of being squatters should carefully review their lease and rental history. Consulting a tenant rights attorney or housing clinic can also help lawful tenants assert their rights and avoid illegal removal or lockouts.