Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill against squatting in the state, which also allows property owners, among other powers, to request authorities to immediately remove a tenant who is unlawfully occupying their property.
“We are putting an end to the squatting scam in Florida. While other states side with illegal squatters, we protect property owners and punish criminals who seek to game the system,” DeSantis said in a statement.
The Law Was Approved by the Senate
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody thanked DeSantis for signing into law HB 621, which was previously approved by the Senate.
The law will take effect on June 1, 2024, and established a cause-and-effect relationship between this measure and the fact that President Joe Biden “has allowed millions of illegal immigrants to cross the border.”
Moody referred to a supposed video showing a “plan (by undocumented immigrants) to take over homes,” and with this law, she said, “we ensure that Floridians are protected from this atrocious and brazen scheme.”
Property Owner Can Request Immediate Removal
According to bill HB 621, the property owner can request the “immediate” removal of a person if they “illegally entered” the property and remain on it.
The law also protects the property owner if they have ordered the occupant to leave and they refuse. Or if the individual is not a current or former tenant involved in a legal dispute.
Harsh Penalties
The law also imposes severe penalties on those who participate in or encourage the occupation of a home, EFE reported.
The enacted law authorizes affected property owners to request “the assistance of the sheriff in the jurisdiction where the property is located for the immediate removal of unauthorized occupants,” the law states.
The organization Florida Rising, which advocates for historically marginalized communities, had previously expressed concern about this measure because, in their view, “it could lead to abusive landlords evicting legal tenants.”
Image: DiarioNY
