Improved Property Owner Rights Against Squatters by New Florida Law

A new law that takes effect on July 1 will provide property owners with more defenses against squatters and permit authorities to step in when squatter situations arise.

If the following requirements are satisfied, a property owner may ask the police to evict a squatter from their house right away under the new law:

1. That individual entered the property illegally and is still there.
2. The owner has given them notice to vacate, but they still need to
3. They aren't a renter in a legal conflict, either present or past

The property owner is being asked to complete an online form that will be available on the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office website.

Additionally, the law imposes severe penalties on anyone who engages in squatting fraud. For instance, obtaining property through the writing of a false statement would be a first-degree misdemeanor. Additionally, it is a first-degree criminal to knowingly advertise a house for sale or rent without the proper authority or ownership.

Safety Analyst Tom Hackney, who used to deal with squatting issues, believes that the regulation would be beneficial.

"When you hear people telling stories about their homes previously covered, you can see the damage those people caused—they had no right to be there and had no legal standing," Hackney added.

Hackney was alluding to the tale of two women who were trespassing in a house that wasn't theirs.

The property's owner, Patti Peeples, claimed that having the two women live in the house for more than 40 days had a negative emotional impact on her.

When the women were eventually forced to leave, they had caused damage totaling more than $15,000.

According to Florida law at the time, the women could stay in the house until a judge heard their case, which is why it took Peeples so long to get the squatters out.

As of July 1, police may immediately remove individuals who do not have a lease or who refuse 

to leave a property.

"It will make law enforcement very happy to have something they can actually step in and get somebody put who doesn't belong there," Hackney added.

Sheriff T.K. Waters discussed the new bill discussed the new bill on Saturday at the Sheriff's Walk.

"The most important thing for us is that we will be able to take action as long as people have what they need to show us ownership," Waters stated.