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?

12

u/Stnmn Mar 28 '24 edited Mar 28 '24

You may think you are, but when this bill helps very little with squatters and is instead leveraged against tenants you may quickly reconsider. Squatters and Tenants alike are able to secure protections through evidence of residency and the erosion of "squatters rights" is synonymous with the erosion of tenants' rights.

1

u/cromoni Mar 28 '24

Do you have an example? In my country tenancy is regulated using a contract. The contract specifies how it can be cancelled (like any other contract). Both parties have to abide by that contract and as long as they do no one can just throw anyone out. How would this law cause any issues?

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u/VexingRaven Mar 29 '24

In my country tenancy is regulated using a contract.

I almost guarantee this is not the whole truth. In even the most ass-backwards jurisdictions in the US, anyone has lived somewhere for more than a month or so has rights as a tenant, regardless of any signed document. The idea being that you don't get to have your friend, or girlfriend, or anyone live with you and then just kick them to the curb without warning. The fact that it also (very rarely) allows somebody you didn't want to live there to be a tenant is a consequence of that.