[[{“value”:”Florida Gov. In addition to being a popular topic in many parts of the nation, Ron DeSantis signed legislation to stop squatting.
” Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 621, which protects property rights, provides homeowners remedies against squatting, and increases penalties on squatters”, Gov. DeSantis’s office stated in a press release Wednesday.
” We are putting an end to the squatters scam in Florida”, DeSantis said.
We are protecting property owners and punishing criminals who break the law, he continued.” While different states are siding with the squatters, we are protecting property owners.”
” As a scam that infringes private property rights,” the company claims that” squatting” a private residence is. Florida is putting an end to this behavior, DeSantis wrote on X, while some states are choosing to indulge in it.
WATCH:
A scam that infringes on private property rights is commandeering a personal residence through” squatting.”
Florida is putting an end to this behavior, despite the fact that some states are choosing to indulge in it.
Stay tuned … pic. twitter.com/ESBuwgtFZH
— Ron DeSantis ( @GovRonDeSantis ) March 27, 2024
” Florida is once again leading the nation, this time in securing our state against squatters”, said Attorney General Ashley Moody.
” Biden has allowed the migration of millions of undocumented people across the border. We’re making sure Floridians are protected from this severe and audacious scheme after video of their plan to take over homes emerged. She continued,” I’m delighted to Governor DeSantis for passing this significant legislation into law, and to Representative Kevin Steele for shepherding this bill through the session.”
Cont. from the press release:
If the next requirements are met, a property owner may request that law enforcement remove a squatter from their property instantly under HB 621:
The person has entered and continues to do so on the property without permission.
The owner has given the individual a directive to leave the property, but they have not, and the individual has never done so.
In a legitimate dispute, the person is not a recent or past tenant.
In Florida, it will be quick and easy to reclaim your home from squatters, avoiding costly delays, litigation, and missed rents.
Additionally, HB 621 imposes severe sanctions on those who encourage squatting and instruct others in the scam. The legislation states:
Making a false statement in writing to obtain real property or deliberately and deliberately presenting a forged document conveying property rights is a first-degree misdemeanor.
A second-degree felony for anyone who unlawfully occupies or trespasses on a home building and intentionally causes damages of$ 1, 000 or more, and damages the property on their behalf.
A first-degree felony for intentionally promoting the sale or rental of a private property without the consent of the owner or the court.
You do it in this manner…
DeSantis set to sign new law to eliminate squatters ‘ rightshttps: //t. co/F3q21B5Ir6.
— Mr Producer ( @RichSementa ) March 27, 2024
NewsNation reports:
One Florida woman’s experience with squatters helped shape the new legislation. She described her ordeal to NewsNation.
Patti Peeples, a resident of Florida, renovated and marketed her home for rent. However, she discovered two women who were squatting in her investment property because they had a lease and claimed they had a right to live it.
Peeples assumed that the police would detain them and take them out of her home, but that is n’t how it turned out.
Squatting has spread to all over the country, with one instance in which a woman recorded her experience in a number of face-to-face encounters with squatters.
Peeples claimed that the women living in her home had rights under Florida law. They were permitted to remain there for at least 20 days before a judge determined that they were in default.
” The first thing I felt was pure skepticism that a squatter could enter my home and they were n’t arrested on the spot for breaking and entering,” I thought. The squatter simply needed to download a fake lease from the internet. And that quickly guarantees them protection under the law, according to Peeples.
Peeples filed a lawsuit to get the women to leave. The county sheriff’s removal of them and their belongings took weeks.
WATCH:”}]] [[{“value”:”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed legislation to combat the squatting issue, which is a hot-button topic in many parts of the United States.
“Today, Governor Ron DeSantis has signed HB 621 which protects property rights and provides homeowners with remedies against squatting. It also increases penalties for squatters,” said Gov. In a Wednesday press release, DeSantis’s office said that HB 621 protects property rights, provides homeowners remedies against squatting and increases penalties on squatters.
DeSantis stated, “We will put an end to Florida’s squatters fraud.”
“While other states side with squatters we protect property owners and punish criminals who try to game the system,” said he.
“Commandeering private residences through’squatting,’ is a scam which violates private property right.” Florida is putting a stop to this behavior while some states choose to indulge it. DeSantis wrote in X.
WATCH:
Squatting is a scam which violates the rights of private property.
Florida is not one of the states that indulges in this behavior.
Stay tuned… pic.twitter.com/ESBuwgtFZH
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 27, 2024
Ashley Moody, Attorney General of Florida, said: “Florida has once again led the nation in protecting our state from squatters.”
“Biden allowed millions of illegal migrants to flood across the borders. After video evidence of the plan to take over houses was revealed, we are ensuring Floridians will be protected from this egregious scheme. I’m grateful that Governor DeSantis signed this important legislation into Law, and that Representative Kevin Steele carried this bill through Session,” added she.
Cont. From the press release:
HB 621 allows a property owner to request that law enforcement remove a squatter immediately from their property if certain conditions are met.
The individual has entered the property without permission and remains there;
The owner has directed the individual to leave the property but the individual has not done so.
The individual is not currently or formerly a tenant in a legal dispute.
In Florida, reclaiming your home from squatters is quick and easy. This will save you money, avoid costly delays, litigation and missed rents.
HB 621 creates harsh penalties against those who engage in squatting, as well as those who encourage it and teach others how to do the scam. The bill:
A first-degree misdemeanor is committed for making a false written statement to obtain real estate or for knowingly and intentionally presenting a falsified property document;
Second-degree felony is a crime for anyone who illegally occupies a residential home or trespasses on it and causes damage of $1,000 or more.
Advertising the sale or rental of a residential property that does not have legal authority or ownership is a first-degree crime.
This is how to do it…
DeSantis set to sign new law to eliminate squatters’ rightshttps://t.co/F3q21B5Ir6.
— Mr Producer (@RichSementa) March 27, 2024
NewsNation reports
A Florida woman’s encounter with squatters influenced the new legislation. She spoke with NewsNation about the ordeal.
Florida resident Patti Peeples purchased a home and marketed it as a rental. She found two women squatting on her investment property. They claimed they had the right to be there as they had a rental agreement.
Peeples thought police would arrest and remove the gang members from her house, but that’s not what happened.
Squatting is a national issue. In one case, a woman recorded a series face-to-face encounters with squatters.
Peeples stated that the women living in her home had rights under Florida Law. They were allowed to remain there for at least twenty days until a court declared them in default.
“The first emotion I felt was absolute disbelief. A squatter had broken into my home and they hadn’t been arrested for breaking and entry. The squatter only had to download a phony lease document from the internet. Peeples explained that this automatically gives them protection in the eyes of law.
Peeples sued for the women to be removed. It took the county sheriff weeks to remove the women and their belongings.
WATCH:
“}]]
