On Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a property rights bill into law which grants law enforcement ability to immediately evict squatters from residences.
The bill, HB 621, follows an influx of homeowners plagued by squatters taking over properties.
“We’re here today because you assume in America if you purchase a home and own a residence that that’s your residence, that if you happen to maybe split time in Orlando and Michigan, that if you go to Michigan over the summer, people aren’t going to be able to just move into your house and then claim squatter’s rights on your private residence,” DeSantis said during the bill's signing. “And yet, in places like New York and California, that’s exactly what’s happening in this country. Homes are being invaded, and those states and their laws are not siding with the homeowners, they’re siding with the squatters.”
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DeSantis referenced several recent stories, including a New York homeowner who was arrested by authorities for changing the locks on her home in an effort to kick out squatters.
“Just a few days ago, two squatters in New York City allegedly murdered the property owner when she confronted them for being in her apartment illegally,” DeSantis said. “In fact, we even have illegal aliens taking to social media, instructing other foreigners how to come into this country and commandeer property.”
“Today in the state of Florida, we say very simply what passes muster in New York and California is not passing muster here," he continued. "You are not going to be able to commandeer somebody’s private property and expect to get away with it. We are, in the state of Florida, ending the squatter scam once and for all."
DeSantis noted although squatters may be aware they are "in the wrong," the legal process for evicting squatters can be arduous.
“A lot of times, the process is very expensive,” DeSantis continued. “We don’t want the law to have the thumb on the scale in favor of people that are violating the law. 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."
The Florida governor instructed homeowners who have fallen prey to squatters to fill out a new form and deliver it to their local sheriff's station.
"The sheriff is instructed to go and remove the people who are inhabiting your dwelling illegally. And that will happen very quickly," he added.
