Posted on 04/01/2024 10:00:56 AM PDT by nickcarraway
An anti-squatting "professional" is warning homeowners against taking squatters to court, amid ongoing issues relating to property rights.
Flash Shelton, who describes himself as a professional squatter remover, on Wednesday spoke to Fox News' America's Newsroom about how to handle squatting incidents and different ways to remove uninvited dwellers from your home.
"First thing, call law enforcement, it's dangerous, don't do anything yourself, it's property, don't risk your life. Call law enforcement and when they tell you there's nothing they can do, contact SquatterHunters.com, let us assess the situation, before you hire an attorney and go to civil process," Shelton said, discussing his California business. "A lot of times the civil process will make what I do more difficult."
Over the past several weeks, there have been numerous incidents involving squatters and attempts to have them evicted from homes they do not own.
Squatters' rights is a term used to refer to "adverse possession" laws, which permit someone to take ownership of something, most commonly a piece of real estate, that they do not officially own by possessing or living in it for a set amount of time, or "squatting" in it.
On Wednesday, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation to address squatters in the state.
"We are putting an end to the squatters scam in Florida," DeSantis said in a press release. "While other states are siding with the squatters, we are protecting property owners and punishing criminals looking to game the system."
GOP Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody lashed out at the White House in a statement on the issue, saying, "Biden has allowed millions of illegal immigrants to flood across the border. After video evidence of their plan to take over homes emerged, we're ensuring Floridians are protected from this egregious and brazen scheme. I'm grateful
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
Squatter bump for later.....
own nothing and be happy or else.
“Squatters’ rights is a term used to refer to “adverse possession” laws, which permit someone to take ownership of something, most commonly a piece of real estate, that they do not officially own by possessing or living in it for a set amount of time, or “squatting” in it.”
Reporters showing ignorance of a subject they are writing about is not unusual anymore. What these squatters are doing as little if anything to do with gaining legal ownership of a property via Adverse Possession.
These squatters are claiming they have proof or permission by the owner that they have a legal right to be there. Often producing “documents” to back that claim. It is that claim that usually ties law enforcement hands and initiates court involvement. If the writer left out a few important VERY IMPORTANT points about adverse possession laws. A big one being. THIS IS ALL DONE EXPLICITLY WITHOUT THE OWNER’S PERMISSION OR PROOF OF SUCH. The amount of time usually is an average of 20 years. The property must be maintained and taxes paid. The owner must not have accessed the property anytime during the allotted time needed to claim adverse possession. The adverse possession must be very public and obvious. Sneaking into a house and setting up camp in secret is not considered in a public and obvious manner.
Adverse possession laws are about establishing a claim of ownership and legal title on truly abandoned properties. Not about setting up residence through fraud or any other non legit means.
This is a good excuse to be friendly with your neighbors and get to know the local deputies. That way, they know YOU own the house/property in question, and have been living there for years.
Good point.
Fumigate with bug bombs lots of them
to he’ll with being friendly to neighbors or the local deputies...you only need to “know a guy”. clean up might cost a little extra but once done is done once.
This is sound advice. Trump has had no end of trouble for trying to use the courts to oust the squatters named Biden from the White House.
Aggravated every time he thinks of the Bidens sitting down to vittles in the fancy eatin’ room.
Just wants to go in there and tell Joe and Jill to git.
Just git.
Fox had Polk County Florida Sheriff Grady Judd on this morning talking about squatters. He will remove them and toss them in jail, When they are released they usually high tail it out of Polk county. He said it it doesn’t make much sense to sue them because you can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip...
I have heard of instances where the homeowner signs a lease with someone else and they surreptitiously move into the house when the squatter leaves.
They effectively squat the squatter. Then when the cops show up, the newest “squatter” has the most recently signed lease agreement and they are the ones who the cops believe.
I have wondered at times how I would deal with squatters in a home I owned. I always seem to come back to me and my brothers doing an expedited self-help eviction with baseball bats and an assortment of firepower.
I live in one of the most redneck, low-population counties in Texas. The local law enforcement here even suggests that you be armed, and will make every effort to look the other way if you have to utilize your weapon. But, I assure you that if you shoot someone on your property or in your house, there WILL be an investigation that will be long-lasting no matter how justified you were. The statute of limitations for such acts lasts a long time. If you ever say the wrong thing at the wrong time to the wrong person about what you did, it could come back to bite you big time. In my county, you will likely "beat the rap" if you are at least reasonably justified, but the ride you will take could be never-ending. It's best to avoid pulling the trigger if possible, because there will always be people around that will never let you forget you did.
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