Squatting is a widespread problem, according to Flash Shelton, a handyman and anti-squatting activist from Northern California. But he says he has found a solution.
Shelton said he successfully got his mother’s house back from a group of squatters in 2019. He has since turned his experience into a career, helping others facing similar situations.
After contacting law enforcement, he quickly learned that since the squatters had moved in with furniture to make it appear they lived there, it was considered a civil matter rather than a criminal one, leaving authorities unable to act.
Although squatting or trespassing on a vacant property is illegal in California, the situation becomes complicated when law enforcement is unable to determine whether people are trespassers or have a legitimate claim to the space.
The presence of furniture and personal belongings can create the appearance of a tenant-like situation, which may force the property owner to follow formal eviction procedures rather than having the squatters removed as trespassers.
