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Flash Shelton, a former California handyman, is known for starting a new niche after helping his mother “evict” squatters from her home.
In an on-camera interview, he spoke to Fox News Digital about his experience, how it got to where he is today, and his advice for others who may find themselves in this difficult situation (see the video at the top of this article).
In 2019, after Shelton's father died, he was tasked with trying to evict squatters from his mother's Northern California home after receiving word that they had broken into the property.
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Shelton said he contacted police, who determined the perpetrators had brought furniture into the home so it appeared someone was living there and that it was a civil matter that police could not handle.
Shelton investigated how squatters were able to take over her mother's house and researched different ways to eliminate the loopholes.
Flash Shelton started his business, Squatter Hunters, after he had to remove an intruder from his mother's California home. (Flash Shelton)
“I learned all about the squatters in a few days and I realized if I could establish my claim before them and then trade places with them and become their squatter, it would work out,” Shelton told Fox News Digital.
He said he noticed three cars parked at his mother's house and witnessed seven people entering and leaving the house.
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Shelton had his mother give him the lease, which he signed, then headed to the house and safely reclaimed the property.
“We traded places with them, we became their squatters, we locked them out, we put up cameras, we told them we would sue them if they came in again. (That) was enough,” Shelton said.
Flash Shelton, founder of Squatter Hunters, finds a legal loophole that allows him to turn the tables on “squatters” inhabited by intruders. (Flash Shelton)
After sharing his experience on social media, it went viral and caught the attention of other homeowners seeking help with their squatter issues.
Shelton then called himself a “squatter hunter.”
Shelton's services are available nationwide via video conferencing and will travel to squatters' homes if he deems the situation warrants it.
“It's in my DNA to fight bullies, it's what I've done my whole life.”
He travels two to three weeks a month to approach intruders through his business, Squatters Hunters.
He said his family has been very supportive, although they have concerns about his personal safety.
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“They understand that this is who I am. My DNA is to fight bullies and that's what I've done my whole life,” Shelton said, “and I had to live up to the name Flash.”
He added, “They know I'm prepared. They know my work ethic ensures my safety and theirs… They support me. And I can honestly say, I couldn't have done this without the support of my friends and family.”
Flash Shelton, 57, runs a squatter hunting service across the country for people in need. (Flash Shelton)
He said he spends a lot of time preparing for each case and feels the adrenaline rush when he's on the scene.
“I don't take it personally. I have a goal in mind and I intend to get my property back,” he said.
In one case he handled, a woman in Culver City, California, was posing as a caregiver for an elderly woman and living in her home, climbing in and out through the windows.
Expert advice on protecting your home from squatters
“It was the craziest situation. She didn't care. She didn't care that I locked her in and that she only had access to her own bedroom,” he said.
“She had no toilet, no electricity, no running water. But she didn't care, because in her crazy, narcissistic mind she intended to own the house when the 88-year-old woman died.”
Shelton said he notifies law enforcement every time he takes on a squatter-hunting job. (Flash Shelton)
Shelton helps homeowners by getting them to sign month-to-month leases when necessary, and he calls police before forcing squatters out.
Laws regarding squatters' rights (also known as squatters' rights) vary from state to state.
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“In squatter-friendly states, squatters are arbitrarily asserting tenant rights. So what we need to do is make that distinction. And if someone enters a property illegally, it should be a crime, regardless of how long they've been there.”
“I think the worst squatting cases happen when people are squatting with nothing to lose,” he said.
In New York, squatters must live openly and illegally on a property for 10 years before they can claim ownership.
However, New York City has its own rules, and the New York Consolidated Law states that squatters can assert their rights 30 days after the end of their lease.
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In California, squatters can acquire ownership of property after paying the taxes on it for five years.
Shelton advises homeowners to be prepared if they are worried they may have squatters.
Shelton says all 50 states should enact laws making squatting a crime. (Flash Shelton)
“The best thing is to get a camera that you can view from your phone anywhere in the world. Another thing is to lock your letterbox so squatters can't send mail to your house.”
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He added that if people suspect an intruder, they should contact police immediately.
“The most important thing is this is property. Don't risk your life trying to fight for your property.”
