Evicting a tenant after tax deed auction

[Steven Payne]

Need help with a unique situation. I bought a property from a tax deed auction on Tuesday and the next day I received a call from the police department asking if I was planning on evicting the current tenants. The original owners of the home past away and the caretaker has been living in the house. The water has been turned off and the meter pulled because they have not paid the bill. Three other "drug dealing" families may be living there as well. The code enforcer for the town has let them know that it is illegal to live in a house without running water. My question is, does this give me grounds to evict them sooner. There is no prior lease agreement. The officer said he would even go with me when I make my visit. Any feedback would be appreciated.

[Rick Pozos]

It sounds like you need to go over there with the police and a contractor. Have the police for protection and the contractor to board up the house. Make sure that you get a builders risk insurance policy. Yes there are laws that protect tenants even if they are staying there illegally. In this case, if the police will help, get them out forcibly. They will probably move on if there is too much fuss to stay there.