A vacant Corpus Christi property with reported squatting activity went up in flames Sunday, renewing concerns about illegal occupancy — and what neighbors can do when they spot it.
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Fire raises concerns about vacant homes
Corpus Christi firefighters quickly knocked down a blaze at a home on Chestnut Street near Gollihar and Carroll lanes. No injuries were reported, but the incident has drawn attention after a neighbor’s security camera appeared to capture someone entering the property multiple times in the days leading up to the fire.
Experts say that kind of activity is enough to warrant contacting law enforcement.
“There’s no reason to sit back. Let someone know,” said Arnold Gonzales Jr., a local landlord-tenant attorney.
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New Texas laws aim to speed up removals
Gonzales says situations like this are often tied to abandoned or mismanaged properties — but two new Texas laws could make dealing with squatters faster and more straightforward.
Under Senate Bill 1333, law enforcement can now remove unauthorized occupants from a property without going through the traditional eviction process, as long as proper notice to vacate is given.
“You have an immediate ability to contact the sheriff or the constable, make an application — the application’s in the statute — and ask them to immediately remove the squatter,” Gonzales said.
He called the process “expedited,” but cautioned property owners to follow the law carefully.
“If they don’t do it right, there are consequences for wrongfully removing someone from the property,” he said.
A faster timeline for evictions
A second measure, Senate Bill 38, applies when eviction is still required. The law mandates courts act on eviction cases within 10 to 21 days — a significant shift from what Gonzales says could previously take years.
“Without this new law, you would have to go through some form of eviction process,” he said. “If you know how to game the system, you can stay there for a while.”
What neighbors can do
If residents suspect a nearby property is being occupied illegally, Gonzales recommends reporting it and looking up ownership through county property records.
“The county clerk is a very user-friendly website to search public records for who owns it,” he said.
As incidents like Sunday’s fire highlight the risks tied to vacant properties, officials and legal experts say awareness — and the new laws — could help communities respond more quickly.