Editorial: State lawmakers take welcome action to streamline process of evicting squatters
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.
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