The Florida Legislature has unanimously passed a bill that would allow police to immediately remove squatters. This is a departure from the lengthy trials required in most states.
For Patti Peoples, a Sunshine State property owner who was locked out of her home after it was illegally occupied, “It gives me a sense of positive hope that we still have the ability to discuss social issues and work with Congress on a bipartisan basis.” he said. refuses to leave, told News4Jax.
The bill, which passed both houses of Congress earlier this month, would allow police to evict squatters without a lease approved by the property owner, and would also add criminal penalties. Under current law, landlords usually have to go through a long and expensive legal process to remove squatters.
Website launched to help Florida squatter victims and other landlords with squatters
The squatters left Patty Peeples’ home with thousands of dollars in damages in the 34 days it took them to vacate. (Courtesy of Patti Peoples)
”“Imagine for a moment that you return home after your days serving Floridians as a senator,” Peoples told the state Senate Criminal Justice Committee in February. “But when you walk in, there are strangers sitting there,” sitting on the couch, watching TV, eating food. ”
“When I asked who they were and what they were doing, they said they rented this house and gave me a lease,” she continued.
The advocacy group Florida Rising initially opposed the bill, worrying that landlords could abuse the measure to quickly evict legal tenants. But after amendments were added to protect legal residents, the organization took a neutral position, a spokesperson told News4Jax.
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A Florida bill awaiting signature by Gov. Ron DeSantis would make it a felony to cause more than $1,000 in damage to a residence. (Screen Capture/Jesse Watters Prime Time)
The bill, currently on Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk, would also allow wrongfully evicted tenants to sue to restore access and recover attorney fees and damages. ing.
Last year, it took several weeks for the squatters at Peoples’ home to be evicted. They drew up rental agreements and claimed they were victims of rental fraud. It’s a strategy the squatters have used before, according to court records.
By the time they were evicted, thousands of dollars worth of damage had been left behind at Peoples’ home.
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Peoples’ experience with squatters led her to create a website to help other landlords get rid of squatters. (Courtesy of Chrissy Cudd)
“I had so many emotions,” Peoples told Fox News in April. “I felt extremely angry. I felt defeated. I felt treated unfairly by the legal system and the police system.”
The squatters were never criminally charged.
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A Florida bill, if enacted, would make it a misdemeanor to knowingly present a false lease and a felony to sell or rent someone else’s property and cause more than $1,000 in property damage. I will do it.
Flash Shelton, a handyman turned squatter hunter, recently told Fox News that squatter laws need to be tightened to make it easier for landlords to evict squatters. He pointed to Atlanta, where about 1,200 homes are occupied by squatters, according to the National Rental Housing Council.
“If we criminalized this, we would be able to send in the National Guard to sweep that entire area and clear out 1,200 homes,” Shelton said on Fox News in February.
