A real estate mogul recently voiced concern on how Americans will handle squatting issues, which are on the rise, warning that some people could "start taking matters into their own hands."
Speaking with Fox News Digital, real estate mogul Shawn Meaike said he is concerned "something really bad" may happen as more homeowners lose their properties to squatters.
"They bought a property. They believe in the American dream. They wanted to get ahead. And the American dream became the American nightmare because somebody took what was theirs and the law was on the criminal's side. It's a scary place to be," Meaike said.
"People are going to start taking matters into their own hands. That's what we do when there is lawlessness. Something really bad is going to happen," he added.
Squatters in the US
Squatting has taken over news headlines across the nation in previous weeks. Squatters can gain legal rights to the property if they continuously occupy it for a defined period, typically between five to 20 years.
However, some states and cities, such as New York City, provide certain legal protections for squatters who live on the property for a minimum of 30 days. These protections make it harder for homeowners and landlords to reclaim their property and for police to intervene. This forces property owners to submit to costly and lengthy civil processes to evict the squatters, which may take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
Some states have made moves to quell the rise of squatting incidents. In Florida, for instance, Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-FL, signed legislation that eliminates squatters' rights, allows police to remove squatters from a property, and increases penalties against offenders.
Homeowners in other states, however, have turned to the Squatter Squad, a Southern California-based business that has been removing squatters since 2018.
The company claims to be following a four-step legal process that allows it to remove squatters from properties in as little as a week. The company does not go into precise details about how they handle squatters, but crew member Lando told the Daily Mail that they "out squat" the squatters and conduct negotiations. It was noted that Lando entered properties armed with a gun and pepper spray.
