Flash Shelton, a former handyman from California, gained attention for his unconventional career as a “Squatter Hunter” after successfully reclaiming his mother’s home from squatters.
Following the death of his father and facing challenges with law enforcement, who deemed the situation a civil matter, Shelton researched squatter rights and devised a strategy to establish his claim on the property.
By signing a lease with his mother and effectively switching roles with the squatters, he managed to secure the home.
After sharing his experience online, he attracted clients facing similar issues and now offers nationwide services.
“I learned everything about squatters over the course of a few days … I figured out that if I could establish the rights [to the home] before them and I could switch places with them and become their squatter, then that would work,” Shelton said.
“It was just switching places with them, becoming their squatter, locking them out, putting up cameras and telling them that I would prosecute if they broke back in — [that] was enough,” Shelton said.
“My DNA has always been to fight bullies, and it’s what I’ve always done my whole life.”
“They understand that this is just who I am. You know, my DNA has always been to fight bullies, and it’s what I’ve always done my whole life,” Shelton said. “And I had to live up to the name Flash.”
He added, “They understand that I prepare. They understand that my work ethic [ensures] that I’m safe and that they are safe … They support me and, and I’ll tell you what, I couldn’t do this without the support of my friends and family.”
“That was the craziest situation. Because she didn’t care. She didn’t care that I had barricaded her, that she only had access to her bedroom,” he said.
“She had no bathroom. She had no electricity. She had no water. But she didn’t care because in her deranged, narcissistic mind, she was going to own that house when the 88-year-old woman passed away.”
Shelton emphasized the importance of preparing for potential squatting situations, advocating for stronger laws against squatting, and prioritizing safety when dealing with intruders.
“The states that are friendly to squatters — those squatters are just assuming tenant rights. So what we need to do is separate it out. And if somebody enters a house illegally, regardless of how long they’ve been there, that should be a crime,” he said.
He added, “I think that the worst squatting story comes down to when you have somebody who has nothing to lose.”
“The best thing you can do is get yourself cameras that you could view from your phone anywhere in the world. The other thing would be a locking mailbox, making sure that squatters don’t have access to send mail to your house.”
“The most important thing is that this is property. Don’t risk your life trying to fight for property,” Shelton said.
