DeSantis signs law to remove squatters' rights

(NewsNation) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new law into effect Wednesday, eliminating squatters' rights in the state.

The law increases penalties for squatting and also makes it easier and quicker for property owners to have squatters evicted from their homes.

DeSantis said "homes are being invaded" in other states and accused the law of siding with squatters. DeSantis referred to squatting as a fad and said the goal was to have "the thumb of the law" on the scales on the side of property owners.

One Florida woman's experience with squatters helped shape the new legislation. She spoke to NewsNation about her ordeal.

Florida resident Patti Peeples bought a home, refurbished it and marketed it for rent. But she came to find two women squatting in her investment property, who said they had a right to be there because they had a lease.

Peeples assumed police would arrest them and remove them from her home — but that isn't what happened.

Squatting has become a nationwide issue, including one case where a woman recorded her experience with a series of face-to-face confrontations with squatters.

Peeples said the women in her house had rights under Florida law. They were allowed to stay there for at least 20 days until a judge declared them to be in default.

"The first emotion was just absolute disbelief that a squatter could break into my house, and they weren't arrested on the spot for breaking and entering. All the squatter had to do was to pull up a false document, a lease that they downloaded off the internet. And that automatically affords them protection under the eyes of the law," Peeples said.

Peeples sued to get the women out. It took weeks for the county sheriff to remove them and their possessions.

Afterward, Peeples said she found the home trashed, with almost $40,000 worth of damage.

After the harrowing experience, Peeples testified in front of the Florida Senate, where she implored lawmakers to change the law.

Her testimony helped shape new legislation protecting property owners' rights so situations like hers don't happen to other people.

In Florida, as in many states, squatting is treated as a civil matter that takes time to resolve. But now, Florida is removing squatters' rights, which will allow property owners to get rid of squatters instead of having to go through a formal process to evict them.

Lawmakers passed Bill 621 unanimously in the state, giving police the right to immediately remove squatters.

It also makes it a felony for anyone to do $1,000 damage or more to the property.

"I want every state and every legislature to hear that this is a bipartisan bill that jointly protects legitimate renters. It protects homeowners, and the only one it's targeting are the squatters," Peeples added.