Posted on 03/28/2024 4:10:49 AM PDT by MtnClimber
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation into law Wednesday that ends squatters’ rights in the Sunshine State, stating that “squatting” is a scam that violates private property rights.
After alarming stories about squatters commandeering homes and depriving the owners of their property rights made nationwide news in recent weeks, DeSantis took action.
“We are in the state of Florida are ending this squatters scam once and for all. And momentarily I’ll be signing HB 621, which will give the homeowner the ability to quickly and legally remove a squatter from a property and which will increase criminal penalties for squatting,” DeSantis said during a press conference on the signing at the Orange County State Attorney’s Office.
“You are not going to be able to commandeer somebody’s private property and expect to get away with it. We are in the state of Florida are ending this squatters scam once and for all, DeSantis added.
The common sense law allows property owners to file an affidavit to prove they legally own a property. Squatters will quickly face criminal charges once its proven that they illegally moved into a home.
If the suspect is unable to produce documents authorizing his residency, the property owner can call on the sheriff’s office to immediately remove the squatter from his home.
The law establishes harsher penalties for squatting crimes, including “a second-degree felony charge against squatters who damage a home, a first-degree felony charge against those who fraudulently sell or lease a property, and a misdemeanor charge against those who purposefully present a fraudulent lease.”
Previously, squatters in Florida, as well as other states, were considered tenants after a specific length of time and legal property owners often had to launch lengthy and expensive court battles to legally remove them from their homes.
“Now, we have not had the same type of issues here, as you’ve seen in California or New York. Nevertheless, our laws were really geared towards this not necessarily being a fad,” DeSantis said.
The governor said that unlike Democrat-led states that protect squatters, Florida will crackdown on the criminals.
“They’re siding with the squatters,” he said of the blue states. “In fact, we have seen squatters move in and claim residence. This forces a massive, long, drawn-out judicial review before they can even be removed from the property. These are people that never had a right to be in the property to begin with. Earlier this month in New York, a woman returned to a property she inherited to find squatters living there. She changed the locks to get them out, and the state of New York arrested her instead of the squatters.”
During the signing ceremony in Orlando, Sheriff Dennis M. Lemma said the word “squatter” is too kind and the perpetrators should instead be referred to as “criminals and con artists.”
“I want to thank our legislative body, both our delegates here in central Florida and abroad, because this received unanimous support, and it’s been long too often where we’ve seen homeowners that have spent their entire life working and earning. Some have inherited homes of parents and to knock on the door and be met with squatters,” Lemma said.
“Squatters actually is a very, very kind term. These are criminals and con artists that need to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” he continued.
Florida, similar to other states across the nation, has seen repeated incidents of squatters fraudulently moving into a home or property, including a squatter in September who moved into a multimillion-dollar home in Bonita Springs and was found wearing the homeowner’s clothing. Another homeowner in June, who was on vacation abroad before returning to his Ocala house, was forced to confront a squatter who trashed his property in his absence.
While residents in a neighborhood in Winter Park sounded off in September that squatters had turned the area into a “nightmare” because the police department was “handcuffed” from arresting the suspects as it was considered a civil matter.
DeSantis pointed out that in Florida, there are many seasonal residents who reside in the state for half the year and leave their houses unattended when they return to their home states in the north.
The governor said those people shouldn’t have to worry that “some rogue person moves in and tries to assert rights against the lawful property owner.”
DeSantis said that he believes Florida is the first state to decisively handle this problem.
I’m sure the anti-DeSantis folks will chime in and say how horrible DeSantis is trying to one up Trump because he signed a common sense bill.
I’m sure the haters will be along directly to criticize Governor DeSantis for not doing this sooner.....or some other lame crybaby complaint.
After her mother died, my friend had squatters move into her mother’s house. They were running a prostitution ring out of the home. Police told her she could not enter the house. Took over a year and tens of thousands of dollars to get them out. They had destroyed everything. Broke all the windows...urinated into the air conditioning system, wore all her mother’s clothes and stole her jewelry AND a grandfather clock. By the end she was just glad to get them out and didn’t pursue charges for all the damages.
Good job Governor. Too bad we can’t dispose of the CRIMINALS in the trash collection.
Another reason why we appreciate you, Governor DeSantis. You’re the best!
The point is that a cop will see a “lease” and he won’t do signature matches etc. it will still have to go to the courts. It’s not going to charge much.
Donnie the Yankee carpet bagger can go back to Queens asap .
1. Who pays the property taxes? If the rightful owner cannot use or sell the property, why pay the taxes?
2. Why insure the property? If it’s not the rightful owners to use and enjoy, then like taxes why insure? Of course squatters are the best caretakers and neighbors do not need to worry about say house fires spreading or trees falling onto their homes.
3. No additional crime problems with squatters… 🤣🤣🤣
4. Of course neighborhood property values are maintained with squatters moving into an area.
5. Why pay the mortgage, electric bill, other utilities and fees?
so no one wins, not the property owner, not the taxing authorities, utilities, loan companies, etc.
I know what some will say, well the government will demand their money! Ok, how did that work out for many areas of Detroit which fell into disrepair, assets can become liabilities quickly.
You are allowed to shoot home invaders.
Excellent job, Gov. DeSantis and Florida legislators. This is how to lead.
And after the squatters are released from Florida jails, fly them to CA and NY.
Homeowners, group together and forcibly throw these home invaders and their belongings from your homes.
I’m pro Trump in’24 1000%, but I have to give DeSantis credit for once again STANDING UP for the people of Florida immediately. This is a matter which should concern every single state’s citizens. Squatters don’t have rights; most especially illegals. I still think he would be the strongest choice for VP. I can forget the acrimony during the campaign; most important is to SAVE OUR COUNTRY, with strong leaders going forward.
There are other Republicans who would be excellent Presidents, but DeSantis is by far the best of them.
I don't know why Trump does not support DeSantis enthusiastically. He is the very best person to succeed Trump and to be adorned with the MAGA mantel.
“We can thank the left for the current state of housing law.”
Actually, we thank ‘Universal Voting’ for this one, as the laws being abused date back hundreds of years and were never a problem, until we strayed for the Constitution and opened up voting to people who aren’t capable of voting for the common good and instead vote either by emotion or for personal gain.
He didn’t write the bill. He was in a quandry about it and people weren’t certain he would sign it. Actually there were a few things in it that could be used wrongly.
IMO it was good he signed it but the legislature came up with it, not him.
You have your head so far up his wazoo that you need to get a room. LOL Quite humorous really.
I also don't know. Agree with you 100%.
And hopefully won't be the last.
“They will have those. Lease forms are everywhere. They’ll forge one and have it handy.”
Sure, somebody is going to try this. And they will go to jail.
Word will get around; Florida has decided to stop playing games.
Ask Disney.
His press conference was awesome. He was fully prepared with facts and rhetoric. A model for Republicans — especially Trump’s issue staffers.
All I said was I appreciated how he actually gets things done, instead of just mouthing off all the time, as there is a big difference. If consider that a love affair, you must be appalled at the practical worship we’re seeing by others of their favorite politician, who hasn’t accomplished much of anything of note in four years. But whether he does or not seems pretty much irrelevant to his throngs of devotees, which is why I stand apart.
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