Current Events > Rare W from Gov. DeSantis.

(+) Yeah! (+)

MIAMI - Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed a bill aimed at quickly removing residential "squatters."
During an appearance at the Orange County State Attorney's Office, DeSantis said that under the measure (HB 621), "If you're the victim of squatting, you can simply fill out a form, give it to your local sheriff and the sheriff is instructed to go and remove the people who are inhabiting your dwelling illegally. And that will happen very quickly."
The bill, in part, could lead to second-degree felony charges for squatters who intentionally cause at least $1,000 in damage. It also could lead to first-degree felony charges against people who sell or lease residential property they don't own.
The law will go into effect July 1.
The governor also said, "We are putting an end to the squatters scam in Florida. While other states are siding with the squatters, we are protecting property owners and punishing criminals looking to game the system."
"Florida is once again leading the nation, this time in securing our state against squatters," said Attorney General Ashley Moody.
Under the new law, a property owner can request law enforcement to immediately remove a squatter from their property if the following conditions are met:
The individual has unlawfully entered and remains on the property
The individual has been directed to leave the property by the owner but has not done so; and
The individual is not a current or former tenant in a legal dispute.
The law also creates harsh penalties for those engaged in squatting and for those who encourage squatting and teach others the scam.
The law makes it:
A first-degree misdemeanor for making a false statement in writing to obtain real property or for knowingly and willfully presenting a falsified document conveying property rights;
A second-degree felony for any person who unlawfully occupies or trespasses in a residential dwelling and who intentionally causes $1,000 or more in damages; and
A first-degree felony for knowingly advertising the sale or rent of a residential property without legal authority or ownership.

Good, fuck squatters.

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This is my assumption.

On paper seems alright. Don't trust that guy to use the bill properly though.

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That's absolutely what it will be used for.

On paper I agree with all of this but reading between the lines this just looks like a blungeon to boot out minorities or people they don't like at the drop of a hat.

Eh, I don't think squatters should have rights as fast as some places, but if a squatter falls in on a place that has been effectively abandoned and has done positive things for the place, then they should have some recourse after a decent amount of time (a year+ of taking care of the place with no official interaction with the owner)

itcheyness posted...

That's absolutely what it will be used for.

Yeah squatters rights have become the brand new tort reform. Where specific, silly but still rare cases are blown up and trumpeted leading to laws to stop them that do stop those rare cases, but also serves to more often help the rich and fuck over the poor

Crimson_Corsair posted...

we are protecting property owners

Almost nothing benefiting property owners or property rights is a "W," from any governor.

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Yeah, what's keeping this from being used by landlords as a way of effectively getting around antidiscrimination laws?

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Both. That's the point. Rare win my ass.

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Which is the most malicious interpretation you can imagine meant to do the most harm to marginalized communities? Because it's that.

This is another big "cruelty is the point" from republicans.

if this is solely used to run off squatters it will be good because squatters are scum, but it's desantis and florida which means it will likely be used to evict legitimate tenants

LSGW_Zephyra posted...

Both. That's the point. Rare win my ass.

You support landlords evicting tenants they don't like by inflicting felony charges on them... a win?

I'm curious how the protection for tenants "in a legal dispute" will work. If an owner wants to kick a tenant out couldn't they just say they are a squatter and get police involved before the tenant even brings up a legal dispute?

Goldice posted...

Yeah squatters rights have become the brand new tort reform. Where specific, silly but still rare cases are blown up and trumpeted leading to laws to stop them that do stop those rare cases, but also serves to more often help the rich and fuck over the poor

Without knowing too much about it or looking into it, that's kind of what I'd suspect. Especially if some shit fuck like DeSantis is doing it. I'm sure there is probably 1 example everyone uses to show it's bad, but then if you look into it, it's like the complete opposite of how it's presented. Like the McDonald's coffee case.

DnDer posted...

You support landlords evicting tenants they don't like by inflicting felony charges on them... a win?

I think you completely misread that post lol

DnDer posted...

You support landlords evicting tenants they don't like by inflicting felony charges on them... a win?

No, the opposite. Perhaps I just wrote it badly.

Heineken14 posted...

Without knowing too much about it or looking into it, that's kind of what I'd suspect. Especially if some shit fuck like DeSantis is doing it. I'm sure there is probably 1 example everyone uses to show it's bad, but then if you look into it, it's like the complete opposite of how it's presented. Like the McDonald's coffee case.

Yup. The Republican MO is to completely misrepresent one isolated case, tell the public "Look what these people are doing!" and then win public support by pretending to "stomp out crime", all the while using it as a weapon against likely marginalized people.

RchHomieQuanChi posted...

I think you completely misread that post lol

I did. Sorry.

LSGW_Zephyra posted...

No, the opposite. Perhaps I just wrote it badly.

No. I don't think so. I just shouldn't have been posting before leaving the parking lot.

If the law is used reasonably, this is good.

But its hard to believe that itll be used reasonably when its being proposed by the Florida GOP.

Out of curiosity, how could this screw over legit tenants? Having an active lease doesn't make them squatters, and I'd imagine they're given a certain amount of time after the end of a lease or eviction.

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Well the first criteria is that they've entered unlawfully and tenants who are refusing to pay rent haven't entered unlawfully but we'll have to see how that actually holds up in court.

Trump goes to a campaign rally. On his way back to Mar-a-lago, NY AG seizes property. Trump returns "home" while no longer the legal owner. Arrested as a squatter.

First-degree felony charges? In Ohio that's like homicides.

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This

KStateKing17 posted...

Out of curiosity, how could this screw over legit tenants? Having an active lease doesn't make them squatters, and I'd imagine they're given a certain amount of time after the end of a lease or eviction.

The quoted text emphasizes how quickly the sheriff will remove the people residing on the property once the landlord submits the form. My immediate questions are is there any review process to make sure the people living there are not legitimate tenants before the police remove them and is there any significant penalty for a landlord if they falsely claim a resident is a squatter?

UnsteadyOwl posted...

The quoted text emphasizes how quickly the sheriff will remove the people residing on the property once the landlord submits the form. My immediate questions are is there any review process to make sure the people living there are not legitimate tenants before the police remove them and is there any significant penalty for a landlord if they falsely claim a resident is a squatter?

It's Florida. Of course there is no review. Landlords will use it to evict people they don't like.

Won't take long for someone to die from this.

MLBloomy posted...

Trump goes to a campaign rally. On his way back to Mar-a-lago, NY AG seizes property. Trump returns "home" while no longer the legal owner. Arrested as a squatter.

That reminds me. How does he keep living down there? I remember this whole thing about how he declared it a club for tax purposes and wasn't allowed to be a resident?

Holy_Cloud105 posted...

It's Florida. Of course there is no review. Landlords will use it to evict people they don't like.

And even if the tenants have legal recourse for a wrongful eviction, I bet it's going to take forever to get through the courts and they'll be homeless in the meantime.

Dont see anything wrong. As long as youre a tenant under contract you should be fine.

JuanCarlos1 posted...

Dont see anything wrong. As long as youre a tenant under contract you should be fine.

oh sweet summer child

JuanCarlos1 posted...

Dont see anything wrong. As long as youre a tenant under contract you should be fine.

You'd be surprised how many tenants are on Verbal Month-to-Month leases, especially from the less scrupulous landlords.

Generally, those people don't have a whole lot of other options either.

This is absolutely going to be abused like everything else the GOP pushes for in Florida and countrywide. It's nothing to cheer for.

MrMojoRising posted...

Won't take long for someone to die from this.

And this too. Trigger happy cops getting the go ahead to evict people? Yeah people are going to die.

itcheyness posted...

You'd be surprised how many tenants are on Verbal Month-to-Month leases, especially from the less scrupulous landlords.

Generally, those people don't have a whole lot of other options either.

Yeah, Im aware. I know someone with no contract who was just told to evict by May. But its part of the double edge of not having anything signed by paper.

JuanCarlos1 posted...

Yeah, Im aware. I know someone with no contract who was just told to evict by May. But its part of the double edge of not having anything signed by paper.

So now, if I'm a morally dubious landlord, I am incentivized to keep these kinds of month to month verbal tenants

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Absolutely. You can always assume that any law passed by the GOP will benefit the donor class.

JuanCarlos1 posted...

Yeah, Im aware. I know someone with no contract who was just told to evict by May. But its part of the double edge of not having anything signed by paper.

And now you can be kicked out immediately by a cop as a squatter.

DnDer posted...

That reminds me. How does he keep living down there? I remember this whole thing about how he declared it a club for tax purposes and wasn't allowed to be a resident?

He's a guest, not a tenant. Legally speaking Trump is homeless.

FWIW the scope of the bill had been narrowed since it's introduction, but I don't know what it used to be like for comparison. I know that tenants can sue property owners if wrongfully evicted but they'll need to provide hard evidence of their right to be there. Easier said than done in a lot of cases and there's real potential of innocent tenants facing criminal charges meant for actual squatters.

Board_hunter567 posted...

FWIW the scope of the bill had been narrowed since it's introduction, but I don't know what it used to be like for comparison. I know that tenants can sue property owners if wrongfully evicted but they'll need to provide hard evidence of their right to be there. Easier said than done in a lot of cases and there's real potential of innocent tenants facing criminal charges meant for actual squatters.

It's almost a guarantee that people renting who would be likely to face landlords that would abuse this, don't have the money for a lawsuit.

so unless some lawyer is taking these pro-bono (or I don't get paid if you don't), its kind of a pointless recourse.

wackyteen posted...

So now, if I'm a morally dubious landlord, I am incentivized to keep these kinds of month to month verbal tenants

Excuse me landlord. The sink in the unit Im renting from you stopped working.

Yep, every renter who is 5 minutes late on their rent will have the sheriff at their door immediately

If they even go to the right place, lol. Many Americans have been promptly un-alived by the police or court making typos in search warrants. Or just simply going to the wrong door.

Board_hunter567 posted...

FWIW the scope of the bill had been narrowed since it's introduction, but I don't know what it used to be like for comparison. I know that tenants can sue property owners if wrongfully evicted but they'll need to provide hard evidence of their right to be there. Easier said than done in a lot of cases and there's real potential of innocent tenants facing criminal charges meant for actual squatters.

people renting usually dont have that kind of money so its def gonna get abused

>bill signed by Ron Desantis to address thing
>"RARE GOV DESANTIS W LFG!!!"

>context for reality
https://youtu.be/i_RLYSaPvak?si=c4MYU2P2FWjqMgFY

Nice to see this topic is getting some push back at the very least