Each state has adopted different approaches to deal with unauthorized occupants living illegally in residents’ homes.
Illegal occupants often cause this Extensive damage to property The cost of the place they live in is usually shouldered by the landlord.
Many states have laws that favor unauthorized occupants in such situations, as opposed to the long and costly legal battles that landlords must fight to remove unauthorized occupants from the property.
States across the country, such as Florida, have begun passing bills to protect homeowners against illegal occupants. (Governor Ron DeSantis/FB)
6 ways homeowners and landlords can protect themselves from squatters
There are some states across the country that have signed bills that give rights to homeowners by helping them quickly remove squatters from their property.
For example, states like Pennsylvania have implemented it. Proposals to protect homeowners. In Pennsylvania, Donna Scuren, who represents the 147th District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, introduced the Homeowner Protection and Unauthorized Occupancy Eviction Act in April, saying she was inspired by Florida’s law to do so.
In Texas, a relator previously told Fox News Digital that he spoke at a Senate hearing in Austin in May about the conditions of squatters he has dealt with over the years. He told Fox News Digital in an email that the state is serious about creating legislation to make it easier for homeowners to deal with squatters.
Below are three states that have taken a strong stand against illegal occupancy by passing laws to protect homeowners.
1. Florida
Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill in March 2024 that Rights of illegal occupants were abolished In the state of Florida.
“You can’t take over someone’s private property and expect to get away with it. We’re putting an end to the illegal occupancy scandal in the state of Florida once and for all,” DeSantis said during a signing press conference in Orlando.
Florida sheriff warns squatters he’ll be their ‘worst enemy’ and there’s room for them in jail
Under the law, which takes effect July 1, property owners will be able to immediately request law enforcement assistance to remove an unauthorized person from their property if the person is not a current or former tenant in a legal dispute and has entered illegally and remains there after the owner has asked him or her to leave.
The law provides harsh penalties for illegal occupants, including a first-degree felony if a person presents false documents to prove his or her residence, and a second-degree felony for those who occupy or trespass upon residential property and willfully cause damage of $1,000 or more.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill in March that will help residents quickly remove unauthorized residents from their property. (Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/Light Rocket via Getty Images)
Before this law was passed in Florida, property owners had to go through lengthy legal battles to remove illegal occupants from their homes. This is the process in many states across the US.
Stories from squatters straight from the people living in the state of Florida Helped get the bill passed.
One example is Florida resident Patty Peoples, who found herself the victim of a squatter situation. Squatters took possession of her property, causing her to spend 36 days and thousands of dollars in losses to be evicted.
Sharing her story led to her giving powerful testimony before Florida Senate and House committees while the bill was still under consideration.
His testimony ultimately contributed to passage of the Florida bill.
“I never anticipated that my personal experience would lead to a change in state law and, in fact, movement in the United States, “We have not said anything in regards to criminal charges against the illegal occupants,” Peoples previously told Fox News Digital in a phone interview.
“I am amazed, surprised, and really encouraged that this particular case of mine has shown me, and I hope it shows others, that our legislatures can listen to ordinary citizens and sometimes attempt to efficiently craft new laws to address common, everyday problems.”
2. Georgia
Georgia is another state that has passed a bill to protect homeowners from illegal occupants.
Georgia Squatter Reform Act It was signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp in late April.
The bill speeds up the eviction process and increases penalties for those illegally occupying homes.
The Georgia Squatter Reform Act was signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp in late April. (Eliza Novelez/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Unfortunately, the bad guys have found ways to take advantage of this, take advantage of the process that goes through local government. So we’re passing a law that I’m going to sign right after this interview to make the penalties tougher, to go after these people, and also speed up the eviction process. But, the property owner will also be allowed to collect damages from these squatters,” Kemp said on “Fox & Friends.”
Georgia police remove illegal residents who had occupied a home since Christmas
“It’s crazy, that people think they can break into somebody’s home and take possession of it. I mean, it’s outrageous,” Kemp said. “It really points to, as we’ve seen across the country, the chaos that’s continuing under the Biden administration.”
Under the law, individuals must present proof that they are authorized to be on the property. If they are unable to do so, they can be arrested and possibly charged with a misdemeanor.
3. Alabama
In May, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed a bill that strengthens homeowners’ rights against illegal occupants of their property.
House Bill 182 It provides for harsher penalties for those who illegally occupy a house and increases penalties for those who submit false documents, such as lease or deeds, to prove their residence.
The law also allows police to immediately remove a person from his or her non-owned home.
This law started coming into force from June 1.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has signed a bill into law that strengthens homeowners’ rights against those who illegally occupy their property. (Governor’s Ivy/X)
“It’s been said that a person’s home is their castle, yet after a national increase in illegal foreclosures on homeowners’ private property, it’s clear that more must be done to prevent criminals from taking over people’s homes,” Ivey said in a statement.
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“In Alabama, private property rights are paramount. This new law warns potential squatters that any attempt to take over and occupy someone’s home will be met with swift action by law enforcement. The best place for a squatter to live is a jail cell, and all of us in state government cannot rest until the rights of all Alabama homeowners are fully protected.”
