Current:Home > StocksFlorida latest state to target squatters after DeSantis signs 'Property Rights' law -FinTechWorld
Florida latest state to target squatters after DeSantis signs 'Property Rights' law
View
Date:2025-04-17 07:59:15
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.
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.
veryGood! (394)
Related
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- NYC college suspends officer who told pro-Palestinian protester ‘I support killing all you guys’
- NOAA 2024 Hurricane Forecast Is for More Storms Than Ever Before
- Video shows Nissan SUV catch on fire in family's driveway; carmaker is investigating
- Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
- As Trump’s hush-money trial nears an end, some would-be spectators camp out for days to get inside
- Mike Love calls Beach Boys reunion with Brian Wilson in documentary 'sweet' and 'special'
- A woman took her dog to a shelter to be euthanized. A year later, the dog is up for adoption again.
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- Legendary U.S. World War II submarine located 3,000 feet underwater off the Philippines
Ranking
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Taiwan scrambles jets, puts forces on alert as China calls new war games powerful punishment for the island
- Morgan Spurlock, 'Super Size Me' director and documentarian, dead at 53: Reports
- Dolly Parton to spotlight her family in new album and docuseries 'Smoky Mountain DNA'
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Many Americans are wrong about key economic trends. Take this quiz to test your knowledge.
- Massachusetts governor adds to number of individuals eyed for pardons
- Kyle Larson set to join elite group, faces daunting schedule with Indy 500-NASCAR double
Recommendation
Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
Coast Guard suspends search for two French sailors after cargo schooner sinks
NOAA 2024 Hurricane Forecast Is for More Storms Than Ever Before
The Boucle Furniture Trend Is Taking Over the Internet: Here's How to Style It in Your Home
Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
Colombia moves to protect holy grail of shipwrecks that sank over 3 centuries ago with billions of dollars in treasure
The 180 Best Memorial Day 2024 Deals: Old Navy, Anthropologie, J.Crew, Kate Spade, Wayfair, Coach & More
The Celtics are special. The Pacers, now down 2-0, have questions about Tyrese Haliburton's health.