A California handyman who went viral for getting revenge on squatters who moved into his mother’s home has revealed how he kicked her out by crouching there himself.
Flash Shelton posted video of his victory in March when he evicted squatters from his mother’s home less than a day after his father’s death.
Shelton, the founder of the United Handyman Association, said he spent a weekend analyzing the laws and figuring out what his rights were in the situation.
“Basically I found out that the squatters had no rights until there was a civil suit.
“So if I could switch places with them and become a squatter myself, I would take those rights as a squatter,” Shelton said.
He had already exhausted local law enforcement’s resources, but they were useless.
Flash Shelton posted a video of his victory in March when he evicted squatters from his mother’s home in less than a day
Shelton, the founder of the United Handyman Association, said he spent a weekend analyzing the laws and figuring out what his rights were in the situation
Shelton decided to take the concept of “squatter rights” into his own hands, almost like something out of a classic sitcom
“I called local law enforcement and as soon as they saw there was furniture in the house they said I have a squatter situation and they basically have no jurisdiction and there’s nothing they can do,” he told Fox News on Thursday.
That’s when he decided to take the concept of “squatter rights” into his own hands, almost like something out of a classic sitcom.
“I packed up my jeep, drove there and left the store around 4am where I waited. Around 8:00 and 8:30 in the morning, three cars pulled out of the driveway and I entered the house. “I set up cameras and waited for them to come back,” he said.
When the family finally arrived, he put his plan into action.
“They didn’t have a lease, so that never came into play.” But when they came back, I just laid it out for them and told them that everything was locked and covered with cameras and that they would only come back into the house if they were in front would break in with the camera rolling, and I would prosecute.”
“I told them they had one day to get their stuff out or the furniture wouldn’t be theirs anymore.”
Shelton has expressed frustration with laws in progressively run cities like New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles that often favor squatters, saying it’s similar legal language.
“The law would prevent me from physically removing them,” he said. “However, since I wasn’t the homeowner, I had more rights. As a tenant, I actually had more rights than they did.”
Shelton has expressed frustration with laws in progressively run cities like New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles that often favor squatters, saying it’s similar legal language
More than 13,000 people have commented on his video since he posted it in January, with many thanking him for his “property” while minding the business. Shelton did not show the faces of the two women crouched in his mother’s house
He says he’s trying to change those laws, but most of all he’s working to help those struggling with the same problems.
“I do zoom consultations.” I ask people to donate to a good cause. And if I can physically go out and help them, then yes, that’s it. “It’s something I’m doing now to help people, as many as I can personally,” Shelton said.
To make squatting illegal, he started a petition on Change.org, which has already received 7,500 signatures.
“This shifts the burden of proof to the squatter and the crime is punished with compensation as an option for damages,” he writes in the petition.
According to Shelton, a few months ago a family of squatters broke into his mother’s vacant house and began living there.
Shelton said his father recently passed away and they offered the house for rent because his mother couldn’t live there alone.
A woman, who told Shelton she was a prison guard, asked to rent the house, but he refused as she said she had no money or credit.
That didn’t seem to stop them, however, as he later learned that a truckload of belongings had been brought into the home.
“She said it was accidentally delivered and she was going to get rid of it,” Shelton said.
That was a lie, however, because Shelton later learned from friends and realtors that the house was full of people and furniture.
Shelton called the police and received an unhelpful response.
“They basically said, ‘You know, I’m sorry, but we can’t go into the house and it looks like they live there.’ “So you have to go through the courts,” Shelton said.
In his caption, the handyman said he was familiar with the stories of “squatter rights” but didn’t know he had to personally deal with a situation.
“I had heard horror stories about how the legal system gives the squatter more rights than the homeowner, so I decided to find a way myself to get them out in less than a day,” Shelton wrote.
In his video, Shelton said his father had recently passed away and they had offered the house for rent as his mother couldn’t live there alone
“She said it was accidentally delivered and she was going to get rid of it,” Shelton said of the squatters who took up residence at his mother’s home
“I had heard horror stories about how the legal system gives the squatter more rights than the homeowner, so I decided to find a way myself to get them out in less than a day,” Shelton said
Upon further investigation, the man said he found out how long it could take the courts to evict the squatters.
Shelton, who doesn’t live in Northern California where the house is located, was fed up with the situation and packed up his car and drove to the property.
“Even if you’re in your house paying off the mortgage … at some point squatters feel like they have more rights than you do, so they have no incentive to leave the house until a judge tells them to,” he said.
“And that could take months, six months, it could take years. I don’t know. “I didn’t want to take that risk,” Shelton said in the 20-minute video.
Shelton decided to take out a lease and declare himself a resident of the house.
He then parked his jeep on the street where the house with guns and his dog is located and waited for hours for everyone to leave.
After witnessing all family members leave the house, he used his keys to gain entry, walked around the house and began installing surveillance cameras.
As he was working outside, two women approached him and approached him. “I’m really sorry about all this,” said one of the women. “It’s a nightmare and more.”
Shelton calmly and coolly told the woman that they only had a few hours to get everything out. In the clip he posted, he covered their faces with a black and white filter.
Shelton told the woman that if she hadn’t gotten everything done by midnight, he would have it pulled out himself.
The threat appeared to be working as the family moved out hours later.
“I think just the fact that I was there was enough,” he said. “It was really fun doing it.” I’m not going to lie about that. “I’m glad it was successful.”
Shelton, who doesn’t live in Northern California where the house is located, was fed up with the situation and packed up his car and drove to the property
“I’m really sorry about all this,” said one of the women. “It’s a nightmare and more”
Shelton calmly and coolly told the woman that they only had a few hours to get everything out
Shelton told her that if she hadn’t got everything done by midnight he would have it brought out
His video has now inspired others across the country who are struggling with their own squatting situation to try to take matters into their own hands.
Though he became an inspiration, Shelton said he advises extreme caution.
“I’m not suggesting that everyone take the risk like I did on my own.” “It’s worth noting that I had special training, had a driver’s license and was prepared for any situation,” the handyman said.
“The men and women I dealt with remained peaceful and that may not always be the case.” “If you ever find yourself in a situation like this, it’s best to expect the worst and be prepared for it.” be.”