American homeowners and landowners have heard of the term “squatters” before, but only some have actually encountered the problem. A&E‘s latest docuseries explores real-life instances involving uninvited occupants in homes, as the show’s leader, Flash Shelton, vows to return properties to their owners.
Per the show’s description, A&E’s Squatters follows Shelton and his team “as they tackle high-stakes, fast-moving, and often volatile situations to help homeowners reclaim their property.”
So, why exactly do squatter’s rights exist in the United States? Below, News47.us breaks down A&E’s latest series, Squatters.
Shelton is known as “The Squatter Hunter” and amassed a strong YouTube following for his documented encounters. Titled, “Outside The Box with Flash ‘The Squatter Hunter,” Shelton’s channel follows him removing squatters from property owners’ homes.
Each episode of Squatters follows “urgent and emotional cases, from homeowners on the brink of losing everything—including a woman dealing with squatters living in her basement—to a couple whose brand-new home is occupied before they even have a chance to move in,” per the network.
The term “squatter’s rights” is also known as adverse possession, which ensures that a squatter may acquire and/or occupy property for a certain period of time if the owner doesn’t take legal action soon. The time frame, however, varies by state.
