“If the suspect is unable to produce documents authorizing his residency, ”
They will have those. Lease forms are everywhere. They’ll forge one and have it handy.
Fla’s 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.
<><>the law allows property owners to file an affidavit to prove they legally own a property.
<><>Squatters then face criminal charges that they illegally moved into a home.
<><>the property owner can call on the sheriff’s office to immediately remove the squatter.
There will need to be a way to do a signature match. This will mean that signatures must not be published in public records.
“provides criminal penalties for any person who knowingly & willfully presents false document purporting to be valid lease agreement, deed, or other instrument conveying real property rights; prohibits listing or advertising for sale, or renting or leasing, residential real property.”
It gives law enforcement the power to remove squatters.....many times the police KNOW it’s a case of squatting but they were prohibited from intervening by law.....not any more.
Also, another scam is listing properties online that the lister doesn’t own and taking payments.
A few live exercises around the state proving the law works will dry up this stupidity.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2024/621
They can try that, but it looks like it will up the charges from a misdemeanor to a felony.
“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.