squatter
Unlawful property dweller
A squatter is someone who occupies land or property without legal title or permission.
Squatters may settle on abandoned buildings, unused land, or vacant lots.
In some jurisdictions, long-term squatters can eventually claim legal rights through adverse possession.
The term also applies to someone who crouches or sits on their heels: She assumed a squatter's position by the campfire.
One who rents property
- residentOne who inhabits
- inhabitantOne who resides somewhere
- dwellerOne who resides somewhere
- occupierOne possessing a space
lodger · householder · settler · homesteader · boarder · roomer · cohabitant · flatmate
One who settles wilderness land
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
- colonistPerson inhabiting new territory
- frontiersmanSettler of wild borders
- homesteadFamily farm and dwelling
territory · expansion · frontier · outback · bush · preemption · wilderness · unoccupied
Poor area of crude shelters
- slumImpoverished urban district
- favelaBrazilian informal settlement
- homelessWithout a dwelling
- destituteUtterly without means
impoverished · squalor · tenement · rookery · Hooverville · ghetto · overcrowding · deprivation
Unauthorized person present
- encroacherOne who intrudes gradually
- interloperOne who enters uninvited
- unauthorizedNot officially permitted
- unlawfulForbidden by statute
eviction · intrusion · violation · infringement · break-in · prohibited · forbidden · encroachment
Public expression of disapproval
- occupationOne's regular paid work
- rightsJustified claims to freedoms
- housingDwellings or protective covering
- landlessOwning no real estate
reclaim · movement · grassroots · advocacy · resistance · solidarity · collective · disobedience
Protected place or structure
- resourcefulnessAbility to solve problems creatively
- self-sufficiencyIndependence from outside aid
- makeshiftTemporary, improvised substitute
- improvisedCreated without prior planning
scavenge · forage · off-grid · resilience · adaptation · ingenuity · utilities · reconnection
tenant
One who rents property
- residentOne who inhabits
- inhabitantOne who resides somewhere
- dwellerOne who resides somewhere
occupier · lodger · householder · settler · homesteader · boarder · roomer · cohabitant · flatmate · housemate
homesteader
One who settles wilderness land
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
- colonistPerson inhabiting new territory
- frontiersmanSettler of wild borders
homestead · territory · expansion · frontier · outback · bush · preemption · wilderness · unoccupied · pastoral
shantytown
Poor area of crude shelters
destitute · impoverished · squalor · tenement · rookery · Hooverville · ghetto · overcrowding · deprivation · hardship
intruder
Unauthorized person present
- encroacherOne who intrudes gradually
- interloperOne who enters uninvited
- unauthorizedNot officially permitted
unlawful · eviction · intrusion · violation · infringement · break-in · prohibited · forbidden · encroachment · removal
protest
Public expression of disapproval
- occupationOne's regular paid work
- rightsJustified claims to freedoms
- housingDwellings or protective covering
landless · reclaim · movement · grassroots · advocacy · resistance · solidarity · collective · disobedience · legalization
shelter
Protected place or structure
- resourcefulnessAbility to solve problems creatively
- self-sufficiencyIndependence from outside aid
- makeshiftTemporary, improvised substitute
improvised · scavenge · forage · off-grid · resilience · adaptation · ingenuity · utilities · reconnection · dumpster-diving
- Old Westcowboy, cowboys, cowgirl, sheriff, sheriffs
- exercisersgym rat, athlete, runner, jogger, weightlifter
- occupantsoccupant, resident, tenant, dweller, inhabitant
- Outbackoutback, station, red sand, cattle station, dust storm
- criminalsmurderer, thief, burglar, criminal, killer
- slumsslum, slums, shanty, shanties, shack
squattertenant
One who rents property
leaseholder · renter · licensee · lodger · lessee
squatterproperty owner
One who holds title
homeowner · landowner · landlord · titleholder · freeholder
- squatter's rightsOwnership through prolonged occupation
- squatters' rightsOwnership through continuous occupation
- squatter rightsClaim through continuous occupation
- squatter campIllegal improvised housing settlement
- squatting positionLowered stance, heels down
- squatter settlementsUnauthorized improvised housing communities