There is some big news for property owners in Illinois. Governor JB Pritzker has signed a new bill (SB1563) just yesterday, July 21, 2025, that will make it easier to remove squatters from your property. I recently came across a video of a property owner walking into what they believed was their vacant home, only to find two individuals inside, along with personal belongings spread throughout. It was unclear how long the occupants had been there. In the past, a long drawn out eviction process was necessary, with Illinois not clearly differentiating squatters from a tenant who has overstayed their lease. This left homeowners stuck in a sort of legal limbo.This new law gives power back to the property owners. This new bill would give police a green light to step in without making owners jump through endless legal hoops just to get their place back. The bill received strong support from law enforcement, real estate groups, and property owner associations. Starting January 1st, 2026, this law states that police can now step in and treat unauthorized occupants as trespassers. If you can prove you legally own the property and someone is living there without permission, law enforcement can now act. This law couldn’t come at a better time. Lately, we’ve seen more stories about people taking over homes they don’t own and dragging things out for months because of legal loopholes. It’s been a huge headache for landlords, people with second homes, and even families who’ve inherited property. This new law is a solid step toward helping property owners protect what’s theirs and finally get some backup when it comes to dealing with unwanted occupants.
