ORLANDO, FL—Following jarring stories of squatters residing in and destroying homeowners' properties, Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation Wednesday afternoon removing squatters' rights from Florida statute.
"You are not going to be able to commandeer somebody's private property and expect to get away with it," DeSantis said at the Orlando press conference. "We are in the state of Florida ending the squatter scam once and for all."
"Homes are being invaded, and those states and their laws aren't siding with the homeowners, they're siding with the squatters," DeSantis said, criticizing New York's laws.
He referenced two incidents resulting in a homeowner's arrest for changing locks to keep out squatters and another's murder by two teen squatters.
Lawmakers unanimously passed HB 621, which removes the premise of "squatters' rights" from Florida statute, gives police the right to immediately remove squatters, and makes it a felony for an invader to do $1,000 damage or more to the property.
"We'll be the first state in the country to be leaning in on this issue—that's typically the way it works on a lot of issues," DeSantis said.
The bill was borne from increased complaints of squatter presence across the state: Patti Peeples was one such victim.
Newsnation reported on her battle with two female squatters in her new home. Under Florida law, the women were allowed to live in her home for at least 20 days until a judge finally declared them to be in default.
Peeples sued to kick out the squatters, but it was weeks before the county sheriff removed the women and their possessions. However, the squatters left behind $40,000 worth of damage.
Justin Mielcarek of Winter Park spoke at the press conference, telling his story of squatters moving in across the street and "turning the house into a drug and prostitution house," he said.
He said the squatters were present for five months, bringing "reckless driving, drugs, weapons, and verbal threats." He said the police's hands were tied, as squatters' rights under Florida statute is a civil matter requiring a court process.
"We were prisoners in our home."
Under the newly signed bill, however, squatters will be expeditiously removed and penalized.
