'Commonsense' proposal would strengthen homeowners' ability to boot squatters: 'It's insanity'

A Republican lawmaker successful Pennsylvania has projected authorities addressing nan nationwide squatting surge because homeowners find themselves legally powerless to region unwanted trespassers from their properties.

Donna Scheuren, who represents nan Pennsylvania House of Representatives' 147th district, introduced nan Homeowner Protection and Squatter Eviction Act earlier this period and says she was inspired successful portion by authorities successful Florida precocious signed into rule eliminating squatters' rights.

"With multiple, caller high-profile squatter incidents happening crossed nan country, my agency has received aggregate calls and emails from constituents concerned astir it happening successful our community," Scheuren said successful a press release.

Scheuren told Fox News Digital squatters tin "easily return advantage" of a assortment of buildings successful her territory ranging from homes to barns to sheds to picnic homes and cabins, and she hopes to destruct nan reddish portion successful nan process.

DELAWARE MAN LOSES $125,000 PROPERTY TO SQUATTER NEIGHBOR AFTER TRYING TO REMOVE GOAT PEN SHE BUILT ON IT

GOP Pennsylvania Rep. Donna Scheuren and a photograph of harm caused by a Philadelphia squatter (Fox News Digital)

"I deliberation eliminating each nan reddish tape, having personification having to spell to tribunal to beryllium they're not a tenant, that they didn't person a landlord narration astatine immoderate point, truthful overmuch of what exists now. All of that is conscionable gone, and nan constabulary tin drawback them, propulsion them retired and reinstate nan homeowner immediately, which is communal consciousness and what needs to beryllium done," Scheuren told Fox News Digital.

In squatting situations crossed nan country, homeowners who telephone constabulary to study a squatter are often told location is thing rule enforcement tin do since they do not person nan authority to find who is telling nan truth successful position of spot paperwork. 

Scheuren’s measure intends to alteration that by allowing municipal and authorities officers to immediately remove a squatter from a building if nan homeowner signs an affidavit stating he aliases she lawfully owns nan property.

HOMEOWNER ISSUES DIRE WARNING AFTER ‘SCARRING’ ORDEAL WITH SQUATTER: 'IT COULD BE YOUR STORY TOMORROW'

Chris Harte, 35, bought an finance spot past twelvemonth successful northwest Philadelphia. After important renovations, he listed it for sale, only to person squatters break in. (Photos courtesy Chris Harte)

Fox News Digital has previously reported that homeowners look lengthy tribunal delays and hurdles that tin rack up important ineligible fees on pinch harm costs. Scheuren’s measure would alleviate that by expanding nan punishment of damaging spot and allowing homeowners to activity treble damages and attorneys fees done nan civilian courts. 

"Incidents specified arsenic a recent 1 successful Philadelphia, wherever a homeowner paid squatters $1,200 to get them to time off because constabulary would not region nan squatters, aliases successful New York, wherever a female was murdered by squatters erstwhile they bashed her caput into nan wall upon returning to her location aft vacationing successful Spain, are unacceptable and show nan rule needs to supply amended protections for homeowners," Scheuren said. 

"This authorities does conscionable that, protecting nan authorities of lawful spot owners, alternatively of nan criminals who are breaking nan law."

PORTLAND FAMILY TERRORIZED BY FIRES SET BY HOMELESS SQUATTERS NEXT DOOR: 'MY WIFE WAS SCREAMING'

Venezuelan TikToker Leonal Moreno urged forbidden immigrants to return complete abandoned homes and invoke squatters' rights.  (TikTok/Screenshot/Leonal Moreno)

Across nan country, nan squatting situation has go intertwined pinch nan forbidden migration crisis. Recently, an forbidden migrant from Venezuela bragged connected TikTok astir squatting and urged his followers to maltreatment nan strategy to do nan same.

Scheuren told Fox News Digital calls from her constituents came rolling successful aft that viral video, and her measure addresses nan rumor of forbidden migrant squatting by requiring rule enforcement to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if a squatter is successful nan United States illegally and to comply pinch immoderate detainers placed by ICE.

"We person to look retired for homeowners earlier forbidden aliases conscionable criminal squatters. Doesn't moreover person to beryllium forbidden immigrants," Scheuren told Fox News Digital. "The truth that nan criminal squatters look to person a small spot much protection than nan homeowners and nan citizens of nan country. It's insanity."

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Scheuren’s measure will person to make its measurement done nan Democrat-controlled House successful Pennsylvania, on pinch nan GOP-controlled Senate, wherever a measure has besides been introduced to yet beryllium signed by nan commonwealth’s Democratic governor.

But Scheuren told Fox News Digital she was encouraged by Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman precocious blasting squatters and saying they "have nary rights."

"With nan unit and hopefully nan media putting much attraction connected it and past bringing it to nan forefront that now moreover 1 of our senators wants to spot Harrisburg legislate connected this issue, I person renewed enthusiasm that we mightiness beryllium capable to get thing done," Scheuren said.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's agency declined to opportunity whether he would motion either measure if they reached his desk, saying, "We are reviewing this connection arsenic it moves done nan legislative process."