Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the “Property Rights” measure into law on Wednesday. Its purpose is to help homeowners get rid of squatters more quickly. According to DeSantis, this is the nation’s first bill of its kind. He remarked, “Ending the Squatters Scam.”
What is a squatter scam?
Squatters are those who move into or occupy real estate without having a lawful claim. Squatters occupy properties for which they have no legal claim or lease. Squatters may achieve adverse possession of the property through an involuntary transfer.
According to the American Apartment Owners Association, squatters frequently have the legal right to remain in a property they have occupied for an extended period, provided the owner does not initiate a lawsuit. Such a period ranges from five to thirty years. The rules regarding eviction and tenant protections differ from state to state. In New York, for example, renters have rights after thirty days of occupancy. There has been an increase in the number of private companies offering to get squatters to leave without causing a legal problem, such as the Squatter Squad in Southern California.
According to Newsweek, many recent instances of illegal “squatting” have been short-term, with individuals arguing that tenant rights rules force property owners to go through a drawn-out eviction procedure to remove someone and allow them to stay for free.
What is House Bill 621 Property Rights?
The law speeds up the process for a property owner to evict illegal occupants from their property. When a property owner requests a sheriff’s office to “keep the peace while the property owner or agent of the owner changes the locks and removes the personal property of the unlawful occupants from the premises to or near the property line,” the law, which goes into effect on July 1, allows the sheriff’s office to charge an hourly rate.