Amazing that this is the legal process. I just thought there must be an ammo shortage.
This should be so easy—Squaters have no contract with the owner, they get removed for trespass, vandalism, burglery, jailed, deported, maybe shot. Renters have contract, they go through legal eviction if necessary. Two very different situations.
https://andersonadvisors.com/squatters-rights/
History of Squatting
In the days of the Wild West, ranch owners could deal with errant squatters by riding out in a posse and chasing the squatters off their land. Obviously, a lot has changed since the days of stage coaches and gold rushes, because nearly every state has laws stating a landlord cannot use force or the threat of force to disburse squatters from their property. Instead, they must file the proper paperwork and work through legal channels.
The idea of squatting goes back to medieval England and its common law. The king’s courts would routinely rule in favor of individuals who occupied a property without permission, providing the owner did not take action against them within a certain statute of limitations.
Back in those days, squatter conflict routinely come into play when peasants seeking escape from the tax burden of their current location would move into the country and build a house on the land, acquiring the property by assumption (a common practice at the time).
Ancient Welsh folk tradition states that if a person can build a home on common land in one night, it would belong to them free and clear. This is known as a “the one-night house.” Other variants of the belief specify that a squatter would need to have a fire burning in the hearth by morning, whereupon they could extend the boundaries of their newly acquired property by throwing an axe as far as possible from all four corners of the home.
Thankfully in the United States, such practices are no longer applicable. State legislatures have created a more concrete set of rules regarding squatting.
However, if an individual unlawfully takes possession of a property and occupies it consistently for a certain period of time, they may actually establish a stronger claim to the property than the actual owner. Though it sounds bizarre, squatting is quite common, and a popular tool used by ill-intentioned individuals to take possession of abandoned properties.
Why Do Squatters Have Rights?
The main goal of squatters’ rights is to discourage the use of vigilante justice. If landowners were allowed to use violence or the threat of violence to evict a squatter, the situation could quickly escalate and become dangerous. Moreover, it would create a climate of vigilante justice that could spill into other areas of life, reducing the safety of society that people have generally come to expect from the places they live.
Squatters have rights so that, in the bigger picture, justice can be facilitated. It’s very similar to tenants’ rights that protect a renter from an unscrupulous landlord. The laws spell out the rights of each party involved to keep the real estate markets stable and negotiations (mostly) peaceful.
People can say what they want about fox news but Lawrence Jones did a story a few months ago about squatters in Jacksonville Florida that really got the attention of Florida legislators... that got the ball rolling on this.
A great example of what a REPUBLICAN state Legislature is capable of accomplishing.
“Feb 2, 2022 · In Tennessee, a squatter must possess the property continuously for a period of 20 years before they can make an adverse possession claim (Tenn. Code. Ann. §§ 28-2-101, et seq).”
Vote for the Dems and see what you get; Mayhem.
The only problem with the headline is that there is nothing in the article actually giving DeSantis’ stance on this new bill, just a sentence saying he is making great strides. I’m sure he will sign it, but I don’t like misleading headlines. Does anybody know if the Governor’s office submitted the bill to the legislature, for example?
Still good news overall. Squatters are scum.
"If the squatters pose a threat or engage in illegal activity, you can contact the police to have them immediately removed. But filing an eviction lawsuit is still required to keep them off the property. The full eviction process can take 2-6 weeks. It's important to follow all procedures properly."
Floridas castle doctrine would have been sufficient enough for me.
I guess trespassing is an extinct crime. :(
Squatter cases generate tons of money for the courthouse mostly paid by taxpayers.
The surprise here that the law was passed by lawyers most likely to loose money with it.
I live in Florida and every few days I read something that makes me thank God, the Florida legislature, and Governor DeSantis.
That sure is nice of Meatball to outlaw home invaders already