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By Mandy Taheri
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A Maryland Republican lawmaker is pushing for a state registry of repeat squatters, arguing that law enforcement and property owners need a way to identify people accused of repeatedly occupying homes without authorization after several high-profile squatting cases.
State Delegate Ryan Nawrocki of Baltimore County told Spotlight on Maryland that the squatters database “could look a lot like a sex offender registry.” Sex offender registries are government-managed databases that track individuals convicted of certain sex crimes and require them to update their personal information with law enforcement. Many states make registry information publicly accessible, allowing residents to search for offenders by name or location.
Nawrocki added that the database would not be for a one-off incident, but rather if an individual squatted “over and over” so that “law enforcement knows who they are dealing with when they come to a property."
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Newsweek has reached out to Nawrocki for comment via email on Tuesday.
What To Know
Nawrocki’s push for a database that would function similarly to a sex offender registry by tracking individuals who repeatedly engage in squatting-related offenses comes after Baltimore County police recently arrived at a newly renovated home where 45-year-old Germarcco Dante Trayham was allegedly squatting. Squatting occurs when individuals occupy a property without the owner's consent or a legal right to be there.
He reportedly provided police with a lease. A similar incident involving Trayham was reported at another property in January, where he also allegedly presented a lease. According to Spotlight on Maryland, several details in that document appeared inconsistent, including the listed address, phone number and landlord information, and the purported landlord could not be verified.
Newsweek has reached out to Baltimore County Police for comment via email on Tuesday.
He had “been involved in squatting situations almost identical to those at other vacant properties,” the incident report stated. Maryland court records reviewed by Newsweek show Trayham has a criminal history that includes armed robbery, assault, theft and firearm-related offenses.
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Lawmakers recently approved bipartisan legislation aimed at cracking down on fraudulent leases used in some squatting cases. The legislation is set to take effect in October. Under the measure, individuals who create counterfeit residential leases with the intent to defraud could face felony charges punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The state does not currently have a registry in place.
In January 2025, Nawrocki introduced HB202, legislation that would make organized squatting a crime. He says the initiative is important “because a family should never have to fight in civil court for months to get strangers out of the home they own.” The legislation did not pass.
While comprehensive national data on squatting is not available, housing groups and lawmakers have reported growing concern about the issue in recent years.
A 2024 survey by the National Rental Home Council found more than 1,800 homes occupied by squatters among its members in three major metropolitan areas. In response to growing concerns about squatting, states including Florida, Georgia and Tennessee have passed laws designed to accelerate the removal of squatters and strengthen protections for property owners.
Squatting has become a growing concern for property owners and lawmakers in recent years, particularly as rising housing costs, vacant properties and lengthy eviction processes have drawn increased attention to the issue.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jenni Fink and Gray R. Thomas
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