DeSantis signs anti-squatter legislation, taking action to end ‘squatter scam’
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis signed anti-squatter legislation on Wednesday, seeking to combat individuals who illegally reside in a house that they do not own or pay rent for.
The bill would allow law enforcement to remove squatters who can’t produce a notarized lease signed by the landowner or proof that they are paying rent for the property.
Additionally, there would be penalties for individuals who produce fraudulent leases that are commonly used by squatters.
Rep. Kevin Steele, R-Dade City, sponsored HB 621 and Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, championed the Senate version.
DeSantis expressed his support for the bill in a social media video leading up to the signing.
“This so called ‘squatter scam’ is happening around the country,” he said. “There’s even videos telling people how to go in and take over an empty house. That was never how the law was supposed to work.”
“In Florida, we are going to take action today to end this scam and to protect the private property rights of our homeowners,” he added.
“You should not have anyone go on your property and take it over and then try to assert some rights,” DeSantis said. “It’s absurd, we’re going to put an end to it today and we’ll be leading the way yet again in the process.”
The governor echoed his comments during the press conference of the signing.
“What passes muster in New York and California is not passing muster here,” he said. “You are not gonna be able to commandeer someone’s property and expect to get away with it.”
“We are, in the state of Florida, ending the squatter scam once and for all,” he added.
DeSantis-appointed State Attorney Andrew Bain in Orange County praised the governor and the legislature for supporting and pushing through the bill.
“Property ownership rights are one of the most important rights that we have in this country,” Bain said. “Today is a big step forward in making sure that this injustice no longer continues.”
Steele brought up the work that it took to get the legislation perfected and passed unanimously in both chambers.
Perry explained to Florida’s Voice that, simply put, the state’s landlord/tenant law has loopholes that criminals are able to exploit.
“It’s really unfortunate that we have this illegal activity being veiled under these landlord/tenant laws,” he said. “So we wanted to make sure that the law enforcement and the landlords know their rights and change that to make it really clear in Florida law that if you illegally take someone’s property, there’s a good chance you’re going to jail.”
According to Seward Law, a Tampa-based real estate attorney office, the only real way a landowner can remove squatters from their properties in Florida is by issuing an eviction notice and then filing an “unlawful detainer” action.
Issues with squatting became more severe after incidences in 2023 resulted in a Jacksonville property owner losing $40,000 in damages, following her legal battle to kick out two squatters who had been staying in a house that she owned. The conflict went on for 38 days before she the owner was legally able to re-enter to property.
Perry said that he personally met with the property owner following the events and it was one of the major motivators for him to introduce anti-squatter legislation in the Senate.
The American Apartment Owners Association reported that 16 states have squatter laws that require individuals to live in a property for at least 20 years to make a claim of legal rights to a home they have been living in without the landowners acknowledgement or interest. New Jersey and Louisiana are tied at 30 years for the longest length of time amongst all states.
Florida sits at seven years and is only beat by California and Montana, each at five years, for the shortest length of time needed to grant a squatter certain rights to a property.
