An anti-squatting “professional” is warning homeowners against taking squatters to court, amid ongoing issues relating to property rights.
Flash Shelton, who describes himself as a professional squatter remover, on Wednesday spoke to Fox News‘ America’s Newsroom about how to handle squatting incidents and different ways to remove uninvited dwellers from your home.
“First thing, call law enforcement, it’s dangerous, don’t do anything yourself, it’s property, don’t risk your life. Call law enforcement and when they tell you there’s nothing they can do, contact SquatterHunters.com, let us assess the situation, before you hire an attorney and go to civil process,” Shelton said, discussing his California business. “A lot of times the civil process will make what I do more difficult.”
Over the past several weeks, there have been numerous incidents involving squatters and attempts to have them evicted from homes they do not own.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Squatters’ rights is a term used to refer to “adverse possession” laws, which permit someone to take ownership of something, most commonly a piece of real estate, that they do not officially own by possessing or living in it for a set amount of time, or “squatting” in it.
On Wednesday, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation to address squatters in the state.
“We are putting an end to the squatters scam in Florida,” DeSantis said in a press release. “While other states are siding with the squatters, we are protecting property owners and punishing criminals looking to game the system.”
GOP Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody lashed out at the White House in a statement on the issue, saying, “Biden has allowed millions of illegal immigrants to flood across the border. After video evidence of their plan to take over homes emerged, we’re ensuring Floridians are protected from this egregious and brazen scheme. I’m grateful to Governor DeSantis for signing this important legislation into law, and to Representative Kevin Steele for carrying this bill through Session.”
The legislation signed by DeSantis allows homeowners to request law enforcement assistance in removing squatters if the individual is on their property illegally and has been ordered to leave but has refused.
Additionally, the legislation increases penalties for those who make false statements in obtaining a property and makes 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 damage.”
On Wednesday, a property owner in Atlanta spoke to Fox News about squatters who have been living on his land for several months even after attempting to have them evicted.
“I’ve been buying and selling real estate in Atlanta for 30 years and I’ve gone through the eviction process many, many times,” David Morris told Fox News’ Fox & Friends on Wednesday. “Now the Marshals will call us. I’ve told the people living on the land, there’s about eight of them right now, I’ve said ‘Guys, pack up, get ready, the Marshals are coming out.’ “
Shelton told Fox News that he first encountered squatting at his mother’s California house after his father died.
“I decided to break the laws down and figured out that if they could take a house, I could take a house, and I got my squatters out in less than a day, and I decided to devote the attention I was getting from my YouTube channel to do something good,” Shelton, who is the founder of the United Handymans Association, told the network.
“I announced a year ago I was going to fight for squatter law change, and then I opened up Squatter Hunters to help homeowners get rid of their squatters.”
Newsweek reached out to Shelton via his website for further comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.