Florida latest state to target squatters after DeSantis signs 'Property Rights' law

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis comments on illegal immigration during a press conference held at the Sheriff’s Operation Center in Winter Haven Fl. Friday March 15, 2024.DeSantis signed 3 bills aimed at illegal immigration , new legislation aiming to “Stop Illegal Immigration” while discussing the state’s response to the crisis in Haiti. Ernst Peters/The Ledger

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law Wednesday the “Property Rights” bill, which aims to help homeowners remove squatters more quickly.

Standing in front of a lectern that read “Ending the Squatters Scam,” DeSantis said this is the first bill of its kind in the U.S.

“We want the law to have the thumb on the scale in favor of law abiding property owners, and that’s what you’re going to see here with this piece of legislation,” he said.

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Squatting cases have made national headlines recently, after one Los Angeles home became a party hub and other squatters were accused of murder in New York City.

Here is what to know about Florida’s new effort to stop squatters and how it compares to other states:

Inside squatter drama: Los Angeles Airbnb renter leaves property after 570 days, lawsuits

Florida’s HB 621 “Property Rights” bill

The law shortens the process for a property owner to remove unauthorized people from their property, according to the bill analysis.

With a form, a property owner can request their local sheriff’s office to help vacate their property.

The law, effective July 1, allows sheriff’s offices to charge an hourly fee if the property owner requests their assistance “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.”

What are squatter rights?

Squatting occurs when someone stays in a home that isn’t theirs and claims a right to be there, making it legally contentious and logistically contentious to kick them out.

Squatters rights usually provide that a person has the legal right to live in a place they have lived in for an extended amount of time, provided the owner does not take legal action, according to the American Apartment Owners Association. That time ranges from five to 30 years.

But many of the illegal “squatting” incidents making headlines recently have occurred in the short-term, where people claimed tenant rights laws to require property owners to go through a lengthy eviction process to remove someone and stay for free in the meantime, Newsweek reported.

Every state has different laws around tenant and eviction protections. For example, in New York tenants get rights after living in a spot 30 days. Private services like the Squatter Squad in Southern California have started popping up promising to get squatters to leave without the legal mess.

Anti-squatting legislation underway in Alabama, Georgia, New York

Florida is one of a few states currently considering laws to target squatters. Here are some other anti-squatting laws in the works:

• Oklahoma State Senate Bill 456 filled in 2023 sought to repeal part of property acquisition law to target squatters. The bill did not make it past the first reading.
• New York Assembly Bill A6894 seeks to exclude squatters from tenant protections. It was originally filed in May 2023, but was touted again Wednesday by the state Assembly GOP in light of the NYC murder.
• Alabama House Bill 182 was introduced earlier this year and has been placed on the calendar with amendments. It aims to give property owners more rights to remove squatters.
• Georgia Squatter Reform Act (HB 1017) was introduced in the current session, has passed both the state House and Senate, and is headed to the Governor’s desk. It adds squatting to criminal trespassing definition.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Florida latest state to target squatters after DeSantis signs ‘Property Rights’ law