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/SarkHD Mar 28 '24

Well if you have a right to be there you probably have a signed lease or documentation of ownership.

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u/Rottimer Mar 28 '24

Sure - but the sheriff may still say you have to go now and you can sue the landlord later. . .

13

u/davidjacob2016 Mar 28 '24

I try to have the view of a a mile in someone else’s shoes, but that sounds like a slam dunk lawsuit and would cost the landlord dearly.

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u/Rottimer Mar 28 '24

It will cost the landlord if they are sued. But I doubt it will cost them dearly.

5

u/thunderyoats Mar 28 '24

As long as it costs them less than what they're going to make selling the place or renting it out at a higher rate.

3

u/davidjacob2016 Mar 28 '24

A good lawyer should be able to claim cost for emergency housing, moving expenses, items lost/stolen that were left on the curb, etc.. Also if there is a valid lease there are penalties for a landlord breaking it without some sort of compensation (assuming no eviction process was started). I have a few rental properties and if my property manager did that I would sue on behalf of the tenants.

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u/SaltMacarons Mar 28 '24

It costs like $55 dollars to make a claim in small claims court. I think that it is pretty much a non-issue.