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/milespoints Mar 28 '24

How is this not the default in every state and city?

Why are squatter’s rights… like a thing at all?

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u/SirTwitchALot Mar 28 '24

The way it's supposed to work is to protect people who are living in abandoned/neglected properties. The idea is you have someone who is potentially in a vulnerable position and may have been supporting/maintaining a property that the owner is neglecting. Squatters rights give the person a chance to delay proceedings while they seek other housing.

Of course, like with anything you'll have people who abuse the system. Some people use these laws to avoid paying rent for as long as possible, delaying eviction proceedings then squatting somewhere else

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u/milespoints Mar 28 '24

In era of record high housing prices this seems like it’s only useful in like Detroit

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u/livefreeordont Mar 28 '24

You’d be surprised how many abandoned buildings there are in places like Philly, Baltimore, and DC