Tri-State Pass Legislation Protecting Homeowners Against Squatters

(FeaturedHeadlines.com) Amid problems with so-called “squatters” occupying homes around the United States, three adjacent states—Florida, Georgia, and Alabama—have taken steps to crack down on the issue. The trio of southern states approved legislation in 2024 to provide homeowners with protections against squatters.

Squatting involves occupying a house or other private property in an attempt to gain rights to the space. The practice often involves invoking the common-law principle of adverse possession, also known as squatter’s rights, to secure ownership of the property.

In March 2024, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation that eliminates squatter’s rights in the state. The law, which will take effect on July 1, allows property owners to ask law enforcement officers for help in removing a squatter if they refuse requests to leave.

Although other states are siding with squatters, Florida will protect property owners and punish people seeking to “game the system,” DeSantis said in a statement. The legislation is intended to help property owners recover their spaces without delays and litigation. The bill also criminalizes squatting or encouraging the practice.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp also signed legislation to hasten the eviction process for squatters and bolster penalties against people engaged in the practice. The new law requires individuals to present proof that they are allowed to be on a property, lest they risk arrest and criminal charges.

Likewise, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey approved legislation allowing police to remove squatters and establishing harsher consequences for squatting. Officials must take action to address a nationwide increase in squatting, Ivey said, adding that property rights are “paramount” in Alabama.

Squatting is often treated as a civil, not a criminal, matter, complicating the collection of data on the extent of the practice. However, the New York City Council introduced a bill to require officials to collect and publicize data on squatting in the city.

As more homeowners around the US deal with the increase in squatting cases, states like Florida, Georgia, and Alabama are leading the way in addressing the problem and securing the rights of those who actually own the impacted properties.