Florida lawmakers pass bill to revoke squatters' rights, protect property owners

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- All 50 states have squatters rights, but how and when these laws are enforced varies by state.

Now, Florida lawmakers have passed a bill to put a stop to it here in our state.

House Bill 621 authorizes property owners to request action by the sheriff's office to immediately remove squatters from your home.

The bill passed overwhelmingly in the Florida senate last week.

Before this bill is signed into law, squatters are considered tenants in the eyes of the law. Now, squatters will soon face criminal charges for violating what was once within their rights.

Senator Keith Perry led the charge on HB621, which allows property owners to file an affidavit showing the property doesn't belong to those who are occupying it.

The bill creates stiff penalties for violators, like a 2nd degree felony for damage to a home and a 1st degree felony for fraudulently selling or leasing the property.

The sheriff is required to serve the notice and remove unwanted occupants without delay.

"This is an important bill if you see the stories that happen," Perry said. "It is egregious what people are getting away with under legislation."

WEAR News has covered several squatter-ridden properties over the years, including a home Le Jeune Drive in Pensacola.

It has since been cleaned up, but not before a months-long battle in the courts.

Pensacola City Councilwoman Jennifer Brahier helped find a solution, but says the time it took was overwhelming.

"We still had to give them notice of eviction, they had to be given time," she said. "I think that's shocking to owners that someone's illegally in their home and yet they still have to go through that process. So I can see how this new law would really aid people in that situation."

Brahier says this bill is long overdue for both property owners and residents living nearby.

"It was affecting their wellbeing, their sense of security, their financial aspect," she said. "For people who've had someone take over their home, the idea that they have to do due rights with someone that's essentially stealing their home is pretty shocking for them."

"I hope this law helps others to be able to rectify a situation quicker," she added.

The bill is now awaiting the governor's signature.

When it comes to squatters rights, the bill does allow for cause of action if someone is wrongfully removed from a property. Property owners can also face perjury charges for wrongfully filing the affidavit.