Flash Shelton, a handyman who has transitioned into a squatter hunter, has called for a reclassification of squatting laws, suggesting they should be considered an invasion or a "terrorist act."
This comes as Atlanta grapples with a squatting crisis, with homes being converted into drug and prostitution dens by unwanted occupants.
Shelton, the founder of the United Handyman Association and SquatterHunters.com, told Fox News, "If we were to criminalize it, that would enable us to send in the National Guard to sweep that whole neighborhood and get those 1,200 houses clear." He added, "That's what needs to be done. If we don't stop it, it's going to get worse."
According to the National Rental Home Council trade group, Atlanta is currently facing the worst squatting crisis in the country, with approximately 1,200 homes being unlawfully occupied. Homeowners are left with limited options to reclaim their properties due to tenant rights laws that bind local law enforcement. The process of pursuing a civil case can take several months.
Shelton advises homeowners to be aware of their rights and the laws, and to prioritize safety. He warns that homeowners can be arrested while attempting to evict squatters due to the complexity of squatters rights laws. His advice is to first contact local law enforcement. "As soon as law enforcement says there's nothing we can do, then I would say reach out to me or someone like me because there are alternatives besides spending a year in civil court," Shelton said.
Shelton's first encounter with squatters was when two women occupied his mothers home in Simi Valley, California. After local law enforcement failed to assist, Shelton spent days studying squatters rights laws. He managed to evict the women within a day by drafting a lease agreement with his mother, making him the legal resident of the home. He then barred the women from re-entering the property when they stepped out.
Shelton now uses his experience to help others remove squatters and has successfully assisted several landlords in California to reclaim their homes. "Squatters' rights were never intended to allow the takeover of residential maintained properties. So until we make it criminal, it's just going to keep happening, and people are going to be afraid to rent out or buy," Shelton told Fox News.
In a recent case, a 4,000 square foot, five-bedroom home in Atlanta was taken over by squatters who ran an illegal strip club inside and kept horses on the property. The FBI eventually arrested four people residing in the trashed house.
Another Atlanta homeowner discovered squatters had broken into her property, which was on the market. She reported prostitution, drug use, and $30,000 worth of damage to her home.
Shelton highlighted the risks associated with squatting, stating, "There's violence and weapons and not to mention the fact that these houses are turning into drug houses. They are bringing that element into these neighborhoods that may not know how to adapt or handle a situation like that." He added, "There are safety risks for children, for elderly, for anybody."
Shelton noted the scale of the Atlanta crisis is unique. "Typically, when someone reaches out to me, it's an individual, one house here or one house there. This is like a whole town being overrun."
However, Shelton assured that if Atlanta homeowners seek his help, he will handle it as he does in all his squatter cases. "I would meet with the local law enforcement, talk to them about the situation, about what I'm going to do, show them the lease," he said. "And I would ask them to do the one thing that they're allowed to do when it comes to squatters to be on the premises to maintain safety."
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