Latest news with #SenateBill1563
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New bill would help property owners in Illinois evict squatters
(NewsNation) — A bill in Illinois awaiting the governor's signature would give property owners more assistance when evicting squatters from their properties. Senate Bill 1563, if signed into law, would let the police remove squatters from someone's property on the spot as long as the rightful owner can prove the property is theirs. The law previously allowed squatters to stay on the property and let homeowners take up the issue in eviction court. Democratic state Rep. La Shawn Ford, a co-sponsor of the bill, said the current law is bad for everyone involved. Kavanaugh signals Supreme Court will soon decide constitutionality of banning AR-15s 'It's dangerous for landlords, it's dangerous for the squatters because Illinois is a concealed carry state, and people are using their weapons to get people out of their properties,' Ford said. Ford said the new law would classify squatters as trespassers, allowing the police to arrest them and bypass the eviction process typically associated with squatters' rights. He added the people who are living in properties illegally are 'crooks who know how to game the system.' 'It's critical because we have people that have spent thousands of dollars in eviction court paying lawyers to get a trespasser out,' Ford said. 'We've had people in Illinois give $10,000 to a trespasser just to move them out of the property, only to find the damage they left behind was going to cost even more money.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Editorial: State lawmakers take welcome action to streamline process of evicting squatters
Chicago and the suburbs have seen a number of unthinkable stories detailing the plight of homeowners who've been unable to remove unwanted visitors. Marcia and Carlton Lee said they were locked out of their home for weeks by a squatter who changed the locks and refused to leave, using bogus mortgage documents to falsify ownership. The couple's trouble started in April and only resolved last week, when they regained control of the South Side property they're trying to sell. In another South Side story, a property owner named Marco Velazquez resorted to moving in with the people squatting in the house he'd put on the market when he was unable to secure their eviction. He said the police told him they couldn't do anything about it. Eventually, Velazquez paid the squatters $4,300 to move out, regaining control of his property in March. Both of these stories, reported originally by WLS-Ch. 7 in Chicago, made national headlines. Viewers and readers were shocked to learn that the system was set up to protect squatters over property owners. We're thankful Illinois legislators adopted a bill that changes this dynamic. The measure, easily clearing both houses of the legislature on bipartisan votes, would allow police to more quickly remove unauthorized occupants, commonly referred to as squatters, closing loopholes that have left some property owners unable to live in or sell their homes. Before the passage of Illinois Senate Bill 1563, known as the 'Squatters Bill,' law enforcement officers had to clear substantial hurdles before removing squatters. The existing legal framework often required property owners to initiate lengthy civil eviction proceedings, even when people occupied their homes without any lease or rental agreement. During this time, property owners were deprived of the use of their property and risked potential damages or depreciation in property value. The financial and emotional toll was considerable, especially for those relying on rental income or seeking to sell their property. SB 1563 clarifies that law enforcement may arrest individuals for trespassing and remove unauthorized persons or property where criminal trespass is occurring once the owners can prove the home is theirs. The measure enables police to act swiftly, distinguishing squatters from legal tenants. Springfield's overwhelming response to these reports was encouraging. The rights of property owners aren't always given the appropriate amount of respect, especially in a time of housing shortages and rising rents. We hope and expect Gov. JB Pritzker will sign this bill into law and restore some sanity to the system. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@
Chicago Tribune
7 days ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Editorial: State lawmakers take welcome action to streamline process of evicting squatters
Chicago and the suburbs have seen a number of unthinkable stories detailing the plight of homeowners who've been unable to remove unwanted visitors. Marcia and Carlton Lee said they were locked out of their home for weeks by a squatter who changed the locks and refused to leave, using bogus mortgage documents to falsify ownership. The couple's trouble started in April and only resolved last week, when they regained control of the South Side property they're trying to sell. In another South Side story, a property owner named Marco Velazquez resorted to moving in with the people squatting in the house he'd put on the market when he was unable to secure their eviction. He said the police told him they couldn't do anything about it. Eventually, Velazquez paid the squatters $4,300 to move out, regaining control of his property in March. Both of these stories, reported originally by WLS-Ch. 7 in Chicago, made national headlines. Viewers and readers were shocked to learn that the system was set up to protect squatters over property owners. We're thankful Illinois legislators adopted a bill that changes this dynamic. The measure, easily clearing both houses of the legislature on bipartisan votes, would allow police to more quickly remove unauthorized occupants, commonly referred to as squatters, closing loopholes that have left some property owners unable to live in or sell their homes. Before the passage of Illinois Senate Bill 1563, known as the 'Squatters Bill,' law enforcement officers had to clear substantial hurdles before removing squatters. The existing legal framework often required property owners to initiate lengthy civil eviction proceedings, even when people occupied their homes without any lease or rental agreement. During this time, property owners were deprived of the use of their property and risked potential damages or depreciation in property value. The financial and emotional toll was considerable, especially for those relying on rental income or seeking to sell their property. SB 1563 clarifies that law enforcement may arrest individuals for trespassing and remove unauthorized persons or property where criminal trespass is occurring once the owners can prove the home is theirs. The measure enables police to act swiftly, distinguishing squatters from legal tenants. Springfield's overwhelming response to these reports was encouraging. The rights of property owners aren't always given the appropriate amount of respect, especially in a time of housing shortages and rising rents. We hope and expect Gov. JB Pritzker will sign this bill into law and restore some sanity to the system.
