Following a story that received national exposure, State Representative Kevin Steele has introduced House Bill 621 in order to “close a legal loophole” protecting landlords from squatters and “adverse possession”
“Steele’s bill would not only remove squatters if they cannot produce a notarized lease or proof they are paying rent, but also would add criminal charges for anyone producing fraudulent documentation.”
For more information, please click on following links:
Newsbreak: Florida Bill Combats Illegal Squatting
Daily Mail: Florida moves to close legal loophole allowing squatters to take over properties
We have previously provided studies (see below) demonstrating the connection between abandoned properties/blight and crime, specifically gun violence.
Now a year after the most recent report, Philadelphia is implementing a pilot program that appears to be taking direct measures to simultaneously address both aspects. In a recent press release, Deputy Inspector General Adam Geer advocates for utilizing crime scenes as a guide for prioritizing blight cleanup efforts and expanding the cleanup to include the surrounding areas, that are contributing factors to the violence.
To view the press release, please click here.
To view Geer’s letter to the editor for the Philadelphia Inquirer please click here.
To view media articles, please click on the following links:
Chesco 12/26/23 Philadelphia Paves the Way in Public Safety with Innovative Crime Scene Cleanup and Blight Reduction Initiative
WHYY 11/3/23 Cleaning up blood after a shooting will soon be handled by professionals in Philly
To view the referenced 2022 study, along with other related studies, please click here.
In a November 2022 blog post we discussed that though property owners have rights that must be protected, the rights of the neighbors to be protected from the negative consequences of vacant or blighted properties are equal.
Earlier this year, one of our clients discussed their enforcement challenges when negligent property owners were brought to court. Attempts at stronger enforcement such as using receiverships were rebuffed.
It seems often the focus of the arguments are strictly on the subject property and the negligence of the owner in following the community’s maintenance code. Looked at in a vacuum the bigger picture can get lost. As described in the aforementioned blog, striking that balance is often very difficult.
For a court, striking this balance is also difficult.
For this community, we drafted a document to be provided to the court, with the intent to provide the court with not only a broader perspective but documented evidence of the negative impacts of blight.
We share this letter for others to utilize as they deem appropriate.
We ask that if utilized we are notified and receive full attribution.
Please click on below link for letter.
In a recent column, nationally recognized columnist, speaker and publisher John Newby (Building Main Street, not Wall Steet) focuses on the value of effective property regulation and enforcement, to mitigate blight and its effect on neighboring properties.
This articles follows a November 2022 article where Newby focused on valuing and protecting the property rights of all parties, both those of owners of vacant properties and those of the negatively affected homeowners.
The November 2022 article can be viewed here
The new article can be viewed here.