State of squatting: America is at a 'turning point,' says handyman who helps people reclaim their homes

 A handyman who became famous for driving out squatters from his mother's home says that, although people are often outraged by stories of squatters, there appears to be a national reluctance to take action Is.

"Our country is upside down in many ways," Flash Shelton told Fox News. "It's not just a matter of encroachers. There are many issues that we need to deal with, and I don't think we are finding a way to deal with them."

Shelton rose to international fame earlier this year when he posted a video showing how he fired back at squatters who had moved into his mother's home in California while it was up for sale.

People from all over the world now seek advice from him or even hire him to get rid of encroachers. New York state, Seattle and California are the areas where he is questioned the most, but Shelton said sitting everywhere is a "huge problem" that he is trying to get lawmakers to deal with at the federal level.

A repeat squatter reportedly broke into a Louisiana couple's home and attempted to sell it two separate times within the last year. At least two different Chicago women were preparing to sell their deceased parents' homes earlier this year, only to discover that squatters had already moved in, leading to costly legal battles. Hui.

"It's almost like, 'I found a loophole. I can live rent free,'" he said of the mentality of squatters.

He said many of the illegal occupants he has dealt with have jobs and money, but they are gaming the system.

"Unfortunately, people are losing their homes because of this," he said. “They're taking everything from these homeowners, and it's heartbreaking to see.”

And encroachment victims across the country say they are fed up of becoming landlords after losing thousands of rupees in removing encroachers and repairing their properties.

"We're already in a 'worse' situation," Shelton said when asked if he thought squatting conditions would have to deteriorate further before local governments could make changes. “We are already at the point where we need to do something.”

"People can be uncomfortable with something... and they can talk about it openly," he said. But when it comes to actually doing something, he estimates that many people are "afraid to put themselves out there or put their name on something."

Until states pay attention to the rights of trespassers, the best strategy is to avoid becoming a victim, Shelton said. He recommended installing alarm systems and cameras as a deterrent so that homeowners can prove when an squatter entered their home.

He also suggested using a locking mailbox or PO box. Some trespassers have realized that they can send their mail to an address and, if they can retrieve it before the homeowner, they have something they can show the authorities to suggest, Shelton said. They live there.

And if someone is selling their home, he advised implementing a screening process for potential buyers before viewing the home, especially if they are viewing the property without a realtor.

"Listing online or putting a sign in the front yard, it's basically just bait," Shelton said. "It's telling them, 'Hey, this house is vacant. It's vacant for you. Get your stuff inside.' And the same thing happened with me."

If one is already dealing with a squatter, Shelton cautions against starting a civil process immediately because "this gives away [the squatters'] rights" and could trigger a months-long court battle.

Although he became famous for combating the occupiers, he cautioned most people against it. But if it's safe, he suggests people wait for a chance to get back into their homes.

"Wait for them to go, wait for them to go to the store, wait for them to go to work," he said. "They're leaving, they're looking for another...easy prey, just like a skunk."