New law HB 621 in Florida: Immediate evictions of squatters
What is the new law HB 621 that seeks to put an end to squatting in Florida after Governor Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill against home squatting in the state.
The new law HB 621 will allow a landlord, among other powers, to demand immediate removal from authorities of a tenant who is irregularly on his or her property.
“We are putting an end to the squatter scam in Florida. While other states side with squatters, we are protecting landlords and punishing criminals who seek to circumvent the system,” DeSantis said in a statement.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody thanked DeSantis for enacting the new law, HB 621, previously passed by the Senate.
The law will take effect on June 1, 2024, and established a cause-and-effect relationship between this measure.
In this sense, the measure responds to Joe Biden’s immigration measures which, according to the Republicans, “has allowed millions of illegal immigrants to cross the border.
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New law HB 621 in Florida: Protective Rule
Moody referred to an alleged video showing a “plan (by undocumented immigrants) to take over homes,” so, with this law, he said, “we are making sure that Floridians are protected from this heinous and brazen plan.”
Under the new bill, HB 621, the bill states that a homeowner can seek “immediate” removal of a person if he or she “trespassed” on his or her property and remains on the property.
It also protects the property owner if he or she has ordered the property owner to vacate and fails to do so. Or if the individual is not a current or previous tenant who is in a legal dispute.
The new HB 621 law also imposes severe penalties on those who engage in or encourage squatting, reported EFE.
The enacted law authorizes affected property owners to request “the assistance of the sheriff of the place where the property is located for the immediate removal of unauthorized occupants,” the law states.
The organization Florida Rising, which defends historically marginalized communities, had previously expressed its concern about this measure because, in its opinion, “it may lead abusive landlords to evict legal tenants”.
Immediate Removal
Under HB 621, a landlord may request “immediate” removal of an individual if the individual has “unlawfully entered” his or her property and remains on the property, or if the landlord has ordered the individual to leave and he or she fails to do so. Or if the individual is not a current or previous tenant who is in a legal dispute.
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The law also imposes severe penalties on those who engage in or encourage squatting.
The enacted law authorizes affected property owners to request “the assistance of the sheriff of the place where the property is located for the immediate removal of unauthorized occupants,” the law states.
The organization Florida Rising, which advocates for historically marginalized communities, had previously expressed concern about this measure because, in its opinion, “it may lead abusive landlords to evict legal tenants.”
All indications are that it is part of the repercussions of a video posted by a Venezuelan migrant named Leonel Moreno.
