Trespassers Welcome: How the Law Protects Squatters

If you find someone squatting in your house, it turns out that there’s often very little you can do to get them out.


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Flash Shelton couldn’t believe it when he found there was a stranger living in his mother’s old house.

He called the police, but they wouldn’t help him.

Turns out, laws meant to protect tenants, also protect squatters.

Shelton took matters into his own hands.

Here’s how he out-squatted the squatter:

[tuongpham]

Never report a squatter. Wait for them to leave, change the locks, hire people to toss their shit out into the yard. When they try to get back in, call the cops and report an attempted break in/trespassing. Oh before all that, don’t forget to write up a lease for a buddy that will be “living” there and get it notarized.

[HmRmxx]

It's truly a shame that a frail, elderly woman can't get someone out of her house who is mistreating her! What is wrong with this country?!

[racetime]

This needs to be fixed. They're not tenants, they're tresspassers.

[earlphillips]

If you break down my door in Oklahoma, I get to play "how many rounds can you hold"

[SoullesGinger]

Break into a house to steal something and that's a felony. Break into a house to steal the house, and that's a civil matter.

[joseh]

From News Nation: 3-26-24, today
"Florida, as in many states, squatting is treated as a civil matter that takes time to resolve. But now, Florida is removing squatter’s rights, which will allow property owners to get rid of squatters instead of having to go through a formal process to evict them.
Lawmakers passed Bill 621 unanimously in the state, giving police the right to immediately remove squatters.
It also makes it a felony for anyone to do $1, 000 damage or more to the property."
I LOVE MY BEAUTIFUL STATE OF FLORIDA AND THANKFUL FOR IT BEING BRIGHT RED!

[pirprod]

The judge who signed the restraining order needs to be removed.

[wildfireintexas]

The worst part is the home owner has to continue to pay the mortgage, the taxes, and the utilities. That makes no sense.

[johnpatrick]

Florida just passed a law kicking out squatters. The law allows law enforcement to remove squatters who do not have a lease authorized by the property owner. It adds criminal penalties, intentionally presenting a fraudulent lease is a misdemeanor and a felony to intentionally sell or lease someone else's property. And a felony if intentionally cause $1000 or more in damage while squatting or trespassing. Now the rest of the states need to follow since squatting has become a normal national occurrence.

[TROOPERfarcry]

They call them "squatters", but they're just thieves.

[MrHellweasel]

So if you lock someone out as an owner, you get arrested. But if you identify as a squatter and lock out another squatter, you don't get arrested? I can't even...

[eloygarcia]

This very same thing happened to this old woman in the city I grew up in. The neighbours were well aware of what was happening and called the police but for different reasons. It turns out that when one of the neighbours confronted the squatter that squatter lunged at the lady who asked why she was still there. The husband came running out and the police were called. The police came and arrested the squatter because she assaulted the neighbour who would come to check on the elderly woman as a matter of care. The young lady that was attacked ( neighbour ) put a restraining order or protective order against her assailant while the homeowner started the legal process of keeping the squatter out. Because of the protective order and the fact that the squatter couldn’t be anywhere near the victim. She the squatter violated the terms and conditions of her release and was permanently dealt with! I say it was a pretty brilliant tactic! Beat them at their own game!

[aliciar]

This is absolutely infuriating. I live in a stand your ground state, squatting like this would be swiftly and aggressively handled by the landlord and police.

[NakedOwl]

"Squatter's Rights" is an oxymoron.

[HarveyTAS]

Next time Newsom leaves for DC a "squatter" should show up with a film crew and watch how quickly the "squatters rights" are removed.

[JanatCalifornia]

He is my hero!
I had to deal with a turn squatter tenant here in LA, CA during Covid lockdown and had to spend my last savings (at the time I was going through hard times) to fight that squatter, who was abusive and has been doing that for 34! Years! (As I later found out running an extensive background on her). I felt so let down by my local and state and federal government. I am moving out of California to a more landlord friendly state this summer.

[Kualdir]

The netherlands currently makes "krakers" (squatters) illegal. Then a guy from the UN came around and said it shouldn't be illegal. The United Nations wants these things to continue, it's mind blowing.

[matthewchild]

Unfortunately, criminals now have more rights than law abiding American citizens. What a country.

[JustaNobody-jx]

It’s like politicians are trying to protect everyone except the property owners who actually have to deal with the consequences. Protecting tenants is one thing, but turning a blind eye to squatters just adds insult to injury.

[WatersandWilderness]

I am currently living in a van. I could not imagine breaking into someone's home and living there without paying rent. I used to own a home, nice home in CA. Circumstances changed, I began disables and could no longer work due to chronic pain. It's hard to live in a van. It's hard on my body, but, I own the van, it's mine. I was fortunate enough to have two young men build it out into a small RV - B. Nice inside. Eastern red cedar on the ceiling and birch paneling walls, vinyl flooring, kitchenette.. Composting toilet, cube storage for some of my clothing, solar for my CPAP machine that helps me to breathe. My 12volt fridge doesn't work anymore, but that will take time to replace. Again, it's mine, I could NEVER invade someone's private home and I don't believe anyone else should.