Vella Backs Plan to Stop Unlawful Squatters, Strengthen Property Owner Protections

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Law enforcement will be more empowered to remove squatters who are criminally trespassing on private property under a plan backed by state Rep. Dave Vella, D-Rockford, that aims to change current practices that have led to lengthy eviction processes instead of immediate removal.

“There’s been too many stories of squatters taking advantage of laws intended to protect actual tenants from wrongful evictions, and it’s time to end the free ride,” Vella said. “It’s ridiculous to hear about squatters who have been able to stay in a home for months, rent free and largely consequence free, while property owners are forced to go through a lengthy eviction process that should have never existed in the first place. It’s absolutely wrong, and this commonsense legislation will rightfully put the law on the side of property owners, not these criminal trespassers.”

The Vella-sponsored Senate Bill 1563 clarifies that nothing in the state’s Eviction Article of the Code of Civil Procedure should be construed to prohibit law enforcement from enforcing criminal trespass or from removing people from the property premises. By differentiating squatters from tenants, the measure intends to prevent months-long eviction processes.

“These incidents can take a long time to clear up, costing time and money when the property should be available for legitimate use,” Vella said. “With this clarifying measure in place, police will no longer have their hands tied when it comes to removing these trespassers.”

Senate Bill 1563 passed with bipartisan support and will head to the governor for approval.

For more information, please contact RepDaveVella@gmail.com.