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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 10, 2024 11:33 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Doug Mastriano and Sen. Greg Rothman |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Combating the “Squatters' Rights” Scam in Pennsylvania |
| In the near future, we will introduce legislation to combat the dangerous squatters' rights scam here in Pennsylvania. A squatter is someone who occupies a property or land without legal ownership or permission from the property owner. To initiate removal of an unlawful squatter at any time, property owners are burdened with an arduous and potentially expensive judicial process. The owner must first provide written notice demanding the squatters leave the premises with at least a 10 days’ notice. If the squatters do not leave by the deadline on the notice, the owner must file an eviction lawsuit and then obtain a court order for law enforcement to forcibly remove the squatters if victorious in court. A new trend recently emerged on TikTok with users sharing tips on how to live for free by taking advantage of squatters' rights laws. One of those users was a Venezuelan migrant with half a million followers who went viral for posting a video instructing migrants how to “invade” American homes. Authorities recently apprehended two fugitive squatters in Pennsylvania wanted for the death of a woman discovered in a duffel bag in a New York City apartment. The squatters beat and killed a 52-year-old woman when she found them squatting in her late mother’s apartment. Earlier this year, a Philadelphia homeowner was forced to pay a $1,200 ransom to remove unlawful squatters who took over a home he was in the process of selling. He returned to a severely damaged property littered with garbage. Our legislation will create a new penalty for those engaged in unlawful squatting and those who knowingly advertise the sale or rent of a property without legal authority or ownership. Additionally, our bill will require law enforcement to immediately remove a squatter from the property if that squatter cannot show documentation that authorizes their entry on the land or premises. Finally, our bill will streamline the judicial process by ensuring that any hearings concerning unlawful squatting are initiated within seven days. We believe that our commonwealth must take a proactive approach to combat this emerging criminal scheme. Please join us as co-sponsor to protect property owners and punish criminals looking to game the system. |