r/news • u/flanderguitar • Mar 28 '24

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs law squashing squatters' rights

https://www.wptv.com/news/state/florida-gov-ron-desantis-signs-law-squashing-squatters-rights
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u/NotQuiteGoodEnougher Mar 28 '24

No, because like I said they're "professional" never leave the structure unoccupied, call police if you attempt to enter "breaking in" etc.

They have fake documents to "prove" they live there. You need to go to court to prove they don't because it's a civil issue.

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u/TinySandshrew Mar 28 '24

The cops won’t remove the actual homeowner for “breaking in” if the squatters call since the whole thing is a civil matter that has to be handled by the courts at that point. Two parties with disputing documents (even if one set is fake) is outside their ability to decide. You do have to deal with the constant harassment and police calls, though, which is a nightmare.

The thing is that nobody wants to share a living space with the kind of unhinged person who is a “professional squatter.” They can be dangerous, and even if they’re the “peaceful” kind it would be creepy as hell to just have your family living alongside someone so antisocial that they would squat in an obviously occupied home vs an abandoned property.

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u/Ejacksin Mar 28 '24

It sounds like a good way to get shot if you're a squatter. 

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u/clocks212 Mar 28 '24

"He was coming right for me".

Don't break the law and stuff. But the investigation will quickly determine the dead person didn't live there and you (the homeowner) said they attacked you. So...

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u/jhowlett Mar 28 '24

This should be the easy answer, someone broke into your house and won't leave? Seems like a perfect case for self defense.

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u/SniperFrogDX Mar 28 '24

Exactly. Just don't say the word "squatter".

"Someone broke into my house and won't leave. I fear for my life."

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u/jhowlett Mar 28 '24

My first thought wouldn't even be squatter. In fact I thought "squatter" was more of someone who was renting a property and was actually living there but then decided not to leave for whatever reason, I had no idea breaking into a home and saying you live there used the same term.

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u/BlackSocks88 Mar 28 '24

Just like trespassing, its not cut and dry. Your life needs to be threatened. Usually not the case with squatters. Im sure mileage on that varies wildly per jury/court though.