Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has enacted legislation aimed at combatting residential squatting in the state, signing the bill into law on Wednesday. The new law, HB 621, seeks to expedite the process for homeowners to remove unauthorized individuals from their properties.
DeSantis emphasized the significance of the legislation, declaring, "The squatter scam ends today with my signature on this piece of legislation and the state of Florida will be better for it," as reported by WTVJ in Florida. Alongside simplifying the eviction process for squatters, HB 621 also introduces severe penalties for those engaging in squatting activities and individuals facilitating or promoting squatting schemes, according to a news release from DeSantis' office.
Effective July 1, the law empowers homeowners to swiftly address squatting incidents by allowing them to "fill out a form, give it to your local sheriff, and the sheriff is instructed to go and remove the people who are inhabiting your dwelling illegally," DeSantis explained. Prior to this legislation, squatters were granted certain tenant rights, necessitating a more protracted eviction procedure. This bill will make it easier for home owners to regain control of their property.
During the bill signing, Governor DeSantis took aim at liberal states, contrasting their approaches with Florida's commitment to law and order. He asserted, "Today in the state of Florida we say very simply what passes muster in New York and California is not passing muster here. You are not going to be able to commandeer somebody’s private property and expect to get away with it."
Squatting has been in the news a lot recently, with several viral videos across social media encouraging the practice. Florida is one of the first states to crack down on squatting and side with the home owners.
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