Georgia, Florida laws give power to homeowners fighting squatters
Fox News’ Steve Harrigan reports on how state leaders are helping homeowners address the squatting crisis.
Stories of squatters living on property unlawfully have been told around the United States.
Homeowners often lose hundreds of thousands of dollars repairing damage left behind by squatters and from lengthy court battles to have them removed from a property.
Homeowners can learn from other squatting situations to protect themselves against a similar occurrence.
HANDYMAN WHO TURNED TABLES ON SQUATTERS IS TRYING TO CHANGE LAWS TO ‘HELP MAKE SQUATTING ILLEGAL’
Read on for tips from homeowners and real estate professionals on how property owners can protect themselves against squatters.
- Monitor your home while you are away
- Have a family member, close friend or neighbor keep an eye on property for sale
- Familiarize yourself with laws in your state
- Contact an attorney specializing in real estate if you notice suspicious behavior
- Speak with local legislators
Befriending neighbors to keep an eye on your property in your absence and installing home security cameras are among tips from professionals for protecting yourself against squatters as a homeowner. (iStock)
1. Monitor your home while you are away
While you are away, it's vital to keep an eye on your home. If you are going a long vacation, have a neighbor check in on your property.
"In a lot of neighborhoods these days — and I see it as a Realtor — people don't know each other. You don't know your neighbors. Everyone's so busy," George Huntoon, a Texas Realtor out of Houston previously told Fox News Digital. "We're all just busy, and no one talks to anyone anymore."
Make an effort to get to know your neighbors so you can look out for each other.
If you are a landlord, visit your property often to check in. If you own a property far away from your primary residence, have someone you trust keep an eye on your home when you are unable to.
Installing security cameras on the outside of your property is another great way to keep an eye on it, even when you aren't around.
"If you're going to be away from this home, you absolutely need to be monitoring your home — whether it's security cameras, alarm systems, neighbors — because if people go and move in, and no one says anything, and they can, they'll fly under the radar. Then, that's when problems start," Huntoon previously said.
2. Have a family member, close friend or neighbor keep an eye on property for sale
Sometimes, when a person is selling a property, he has already moved on to a new home.
If you are in this situation, be sure to have someone else monitoring your home during this selling period.
"For homeowners, I would say my best tip would be if you are going to go ahead and move out of state and your home is going to be sold after you've left or if you are a distant relative and you have a family member's home that is tied up in probate, have someone keep a regular close watch on the property," Courtney Hartsfield, a Realtor from Tyler Hughes Realty Group with Horizon Realty based in Madison, Alabama, previously told Fox News Digital, sharing that those homes are "easy targets."
Houses that look vacant, such as those with a "for sale" sign posted out front, can be sought out by squatters. (iStock)
3. Familiarize yourself with laws in your state
The laws in each state regarding squatters differ.
Certain states have laws in place that favor squatters, while other states have laws in place that allow squatters to be quickly removed from homes by law enforcement without a lengthy legal process.
One state that has passed laws to protect homeowners against squatters is Florida.
The Florida statute "now makes it easier for landlords to call the police in those specific situations where the property wasn't open to the public and the person is not a tenant. They can, in many situations, be removed by the police without the need for filing an unlawful detainer lawsuit," Jerron Kelley, partner at Kelley & Grant P.A. in Boca Raton, Florida, previously told Fox News Digital.
Since laws differ by state, it's important to familiarize yourself with your state's laws so you know what to do in the case of a squatter situation.
4. Contact an attorney specializing in real estate if you notice suspicious behavior
If there is a squatter living on your property, it's vital to get connected with a lawyer as soon as possible.
If you have a squatter living in your home, contact an attorney right away. (iStock)
When looking for a lawyer to speak to, find one who specializes in real estate, who will have the most knowledge of the laws to help you find a solution quickly, Kelley previously said.
5. Speak with local legislators
Many individuals have come forward to share their stories of dealing with squatters. A lot of these stories have gained national media attention and have even led to changes to laws.
One individual who has shared her story is a Florida homeowner named Patti Peeples, who had squatters in a property she was trying to sell for over a month.
When her story gained traction, she was approached by Florida legislators. Peeples ended up testifying before Florida Senate and House committees when a bill, which has since been signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, was still under consideration.
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"I'm amazed, surprised and really, really encouraged what this particular case of mine showed me, and I hope (it) shows others that our legislatures can listen to everyday citizens and sometimes actually seek to efficiently make new laws to address common everyday problems," Peeples told Fox News Digital.
"It's a really great example where my story generated local news interest, local news interest generated national news interest and national coverage inspired state legislatures to act," Peeples said. "I think that's really how things should work in our country. It demonstrates the value of the free press. It demonstrates that legislators can work, in my particular case, bipartisanly. So, I think there are a lot of wins out of this that are bigger than squatting, specifically, and certainly bigger than my case."
If you have dealt with a squatter problem or know of others that have in your state talking to local legislators can help make changes to the laws to better protect homeowners.
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