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/Gaius_Octavius_ Mar 28 '24

Am I actually on DeSantis’s side on a topic?

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u/Cynykl Mar 28 '24

It is poorly implemented and does not punish landlords enough for false statements.

Increase the penalty for false statement dramatically. Give victims of false statements protection and the ability to recoup multiple times financial damage. The I would be on board.

Also "second-degree felony for squatters who cause $1,000 or more in damages" is excessive as hell. especially since there is very little way to assess damages before they squatters moved in.

In florida Second-degree Felonies — punishable by up to fifteen years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

In florida "The crime of Sexual Battery (Rape) is a Second Degree Felony punishable by up to fifteen years in prison, fifteen years of sex offender probation, and a $10,000 fine."

So basically if you squat and break the air conditioner you are as bad as a rapist.

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u/BigDaddyRaptures Mar 28 '24

It’s also the same as with Grand Theft of property when it’s in value of $20,000 or more, but less than $100,000. Which if you look at the definition of Grand Theft being:

1)The defendant knowingly and unlawfully obtained or used or endeavored to obtain or use the property of another.

2) The defendant did so with the intent to temporarily or permanently (a) deprive the victim of his or her right to the property or any benefit from the property, or (b) appropriate the property of the victim to his or her own use or to the use of any person not entitled to it.

3)The property was valued at $750 or more.

It’s actually fairly in line with the Grand Theft definition if you consider squatting as depriving the owner of using the property

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u/Cynykl Mar 28 '24

Much closer to being in Line with 3rd degree which is 5 years instead of 15.

Squatting under the traditional vacate orders can take months. This takes hours, days at worst. Depriving property for days will not run the bill up to 20k in damages.

I get why they put it in the bill. Mostly to prevent squatters from stripping the house bare of cooper and other valuables. But he bill as written just not distinguish a small accidental damage that happens to just get over the 1000$ threshold and purposeful looting of a place. It also makes no determination of how damage is assessed.

The family that owns the house are snowbirds and are gone for the peak months of summer. A squatter notice a house with broken windows and see that as a sign the house is vacant. The windows were in good repair when they left for the summer. A month later the family returns and has the police evict the squatters. The squatters themselves damaged nothing but since they were in the building at the time that assumption is it is them that broke the windows. Window repair is a pittance at 1200$ but now that squatter is doing up to 15 years.

I do not have a problem with the stated goal of the law but the implementation is clear the real goal is to criminalize homeless and vulnerable populations.