‘Squatter Hunter’ Finds a Way to Outsmart Squatters

Squatters’ rights have been a hot topic in recent years. That’s because the legal loophole can allow people to live in a home that they have no claim to, preventing the rightful owner from entering. While something like this can be very frustrating for property owners, it can also become quite expensive.

Current squatters’ rights laws can turn disputes over who should be living in a home into long and drawn-out legal affairs that often require a judge to get involved. It can also put a financial burden on homeowners, because most squatters remain in the home without paying rent.

That doesn’t even take into consideration any damage they do to the property, which often falls on the owner to repair. However, one man who goes by the name Flash Shelton has found a legal loophole that is allowing him to evict squatters without waiting for a judge’s approval, and he’s turned his idea into a reality television show.

He originally shared his story on YouTube back in 2023, explaining exactly what happened and the steps he took to legally kick squatters out of his mom’s house without having to wait for the courts. 

Shelton Got the Idea When Squatters Took Over His Mom’s House

It all started in 2019, after Shelton’s mother had a run-in with a squatter when she put her home up for rent. Her husband had just passed away, and she was looking to earn some income from the property. A woman initially reached out to her about renting, and offered to take care of the home and make some repairs in lieu of paying rent. However, Shelton’s mom never got a chance to agree to the offer since the woman quickly moved herself and her belongings into the house.

Shelton’s mom was worried about the costs of a lengthy court battle, so her son took matters into his own hands. “If they can take a house, I can take a house,” he said of his idea, which involved his mother legally leasing the house to him.

After he had a fully executed lease from his mom, Shelton says he headed to the house and told the squatters they would have to leave before he had a group of people come in and remove their stuff. Fortunately, they did so without incident, and Shelton was able to help his mom. But he says he realized during the process that he could do the same thing for others, and he began offering his services up under the name “Squatter Hunters.” 

He Now Has His Own Reality Show

Fast forward to 2026, and Shelton has begun removing squatters professionally for long enough that he’s even gotten his own reality show on A&E called Squatters. He posted a few clips from the series on his Instagram account, highlighting some of the jobs he worked on while the cameras were rolling. 

And while some of these clips are satisfying to watch, especially the cases where Shelton and his team help people looking to move back into their own homes, there is a warning that comes along with the clips, advising people not to try this on their own.

Not only are these episodes filmed with a team of trained professionals, but it sounds like there may be a bit of nuance when it comes to what you legally can and cannot do when it comes to squatters. To complicate things, the American Apartment Owners Association explains on its website that squatters’ rights can vary by state, which makes it important to know what the rules and requirements are where you live.