Man turns the tables on squatters living inside his mother’s Northern California home
A handyman was able to get revenge on squatters who had moved into his mother’s home by showing up with guns and squatting himself inside the residence.
Flash Shelton posted a video about his experience removing squatters from his mom’s home in less than a day to massive success, receiving more than two million views on YouTube.
‘If they could take a house, then I could take a house,’ Shelton, a member of the United Handyman Association, said in the video.
‘They’re the squatter, and they have rights. Well, then, if I become the squatter on the squatter, then I should have rights, right?’ the man said.
More than 13,000 people have commented on his video since he posted it in January, with many thanking him for his ‘decency’ while also taking care of business.
‘I’m over whelmed by your decency in handling this really challenging situation in your life,’ wrote one commenter whose reply received more than 100 likes.
Flash Shelton posted a video about his experience removing squatters from his mom’s home in less than a day to massive success, receiving more than two million views on YouTube
More than 13,000 people have commented on his video since he posted it in January, with many thanking him for his ‘decency’ while also taking care of business. Shelton did not show the faces of the two women who were squatting inside his mother’s home.
According to Shelton, the situation started several months ago when a family of squatters broke into his mother’s vacant home and began living there.
Shelton said his dad had recently passed away and they had put the home up for rent since his mother could not live there alone.
A woman who told Shelton she was a prison guard at some point asked to rent the home, but he refused as she said she had no money or credit.
That didn’t appear to stop her, however, as it was later learned that a truckload of belongings had been brought to the home.
‘She said that it was delivered by accident and she was getting rid of it,’ Shelton said.
That was a lie, however, as Shelton later found out from friends and realtors that the house was full of people and furniture.
Shelton called the police and received an unhelpful answer.
‘They basically said, “You know, I’m sorry, but we can’t enter the house, and it looks like they’re living there. So you need to go through the courts,”‘ Shelton said.
In his video’s caption, the handyman said he was familiar with ‘squatters rights’ stories but that he didn’t know he would have to deal with a situation, personally.
‘I had heard horror stories about how the legal system gives the squatter more rights than the homeowner, so I decided to come up with a way on my own to get them out in less than a day,’ Shelton wrote.
According to Shelton, the situation started several months ago when a family of squatters broke into his mother’s vacant home and began living there.
In his video, Shelton said his dad had recently passed away and they had put the home up for rent since his mother could not live there alone.
‘She said that it was delivered by accident and she was getting rid of it,’ Shelton said of the squatters who had taken up residence in his mother’s home
In his video’s caption, the handyman said he was familiar with ‘squatters rights’ stories but that he didn’t know he would have to deal with a situation, personally.
‘I had heard horror stories about how the legal system gives the squatter more rights than the homeowner, so I decided to come up with a way on my own to get them out in less than a day,’ Shelton said
Upon doing more research, the man said he learned just how long it could take to go through the courts and evict the squatters.
Fed up with the situation, Shelton – who does not live in Northern California where the home is located – packed up his car and drove to the property.
‘Even though you’re at your house, and you’re paying the mortgage … at some point, squatters feel like they have more rights than you, so they don’t have incentive to leave 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 chance,’ Shelton said in the 20-minute video.
Shelton decided he would write up a lease and credit himself as the resident of the home.
He then parked his Jeep on the street where the house is at with guns and his dog and waited for hours until everyone left.
After witnessing all the members of the family leave, he let himself in using his keys and then walked around the house and began installing security cameras.
As he was working outside, two women walked up and approached him.
‘I’m really sorry about all this,’ said one of the women. ‘It’s a nightmare and beyond.’
Shelton calmly and coolly told the woman they had mere hours to get everything out
Shelton told the woman that if she hadn’t had everything out by midnight, he would have hauled it out himself.
The threat appeared to work as the family was moved out hours later.
‘I think just the fact that I was there was enough,’ he said. ‘It was really fun to do it. I won’t lie about that. I’m glad it was successful.
Fed up with the situation, Shelton – who does not live in Northern California where the home is located – packed up his car and drove to the property
As he was working outside to install security cameras, two women approached him.
‘I’m really sorry about all this,’ said one of the women. ‘It’s a nightmare and beyond’
Shelton calmly and coolly told the woman they had mere hours to get everything out
Shelton told her if she didn’t have everything out by midnight, she would have it hauled out
His video has now inspired others across the country who are dealing with their own squatter situations to attempt to take things into their own hands.
Despite becoming an inspiration, Shelton said he advises extreme caution.
‘I don’t suggest that everyone take a chance like I did on their own. It’s worth noting that I have had special training, a license to carry and was prepared for whatever situation was to arise,’ the handyman said.
‘The men and women I had to deal with remained peaceful and that may not always be the case. If you ever have a situation like this, it is best to expect the worst and you will be prepared.