Article
Courtesy of South Florida Times
Published April 28, 2024
Miami – A new state law now gives property owners the
right to easily get rid of squatters from their properties.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed
HB 621
into law, which gives law enforcement the authority to remove and arrest
squatters from properties and increase penalties for producing fraudulent
documents claiming property ownership.
The new law takes effect on July 1, 2024. Homeowners associations and other
property owners groups campaign for the bill after years of difficulties
removing squatters from their properties and making costly repairs to their
damaged premises when they finally leave.
TAKES EFFECT JULY 1:
And "long overdue,” said one African American property owner in
Miami, who for three years, and $3,000 in damages to the pipes,
walls, bathroom and kitchen, clashed with squatters living in
her house which she wanted to rent out. “I wish they had done
something like this two years ago." |
They had to file civil suits to force them out which took
years and was costly.
Most of the homes were unoccupied when the squatters moved in and didn’t pay
rent.
Unlike a tenant-landlord agreement, property owners couldn’t evict squatters
without a valid contract.
Some squatters produced fraudulent papers claiming ownership of the home,
but the police and other law enforcement agencies were powerless even as the
intruders destroyed the properties.
“We are putting an end to the squatters’ scam in Florida,” said DeSantis.
“While other states are siding with the squatters, we are protecting
property owners and punishing criminals looking to game the system.”
The bill also levies fines and criminal penalties against squatters for
fraudulent claim to properties and any damages including first-degree
misdemeanor for making a false statement in writing to obtain real property
or for knowingly and willfully presenting a falsified document conveying
property right; a second degree felony for any person who unlawfully
occupied or trespasses in a residential dwelling and who intentionally
causes $1,000 or more in damages; and a first-degree felony for knowingly
advertising the sale or rent of a residential property without legal
authority or ownership.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said Florida was among the leading
states with squatters and is now giving relief to property owners to easily
get rid of them with the help of law enforcement.
“Florida is once again leading the nation, this time in securing our state
against squatters,” she said.
Moody blames the Biden administration for the squatters dilemma for allowing
millions of illegal immigrants to flood across the border and fraudulently
take over unoccupied homes.
"After video evidence of their plan to take over homes emerged, we’re
ensuring Floridians are protected from this egregious and brazen scheme,"
Moody said.
According to the National Rental Home Council (HRHC), Florida is among the
leading states with reported cases of squatters unlawfully taking over
properties.
From 2018-2022, Orange, Broward and Miami-Dade counties had a total of 784
reported cases of landowners claiming squatters illegally stole their
properties.
About 32 percent of the cases were settled in court and some homeowners sold
their properties to avoid legal fees to remove squatters.
Gwendolyn James, who owns property in Miami, clashed with squatters living
in her house for three years which she wanted to rent out.
James, who is Black, said she went to court to remove the squatters and
spent about a lot of money on fees, but it took eight months to do so.
In addition, she had to pay about $3,000 to repair damages to the pipes,
walls, bathroom and kitchen.
She said had Florida imposed a law, it would’ve saved her a lot of money.
"What I had to deal with it was stressful, frustrating and costly," said the
58-year-old business owner. "The new law is long overdue but i wish they had
done something like this two years ago."
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