The Big Apple is seeing a troublesome trend of unwelcome squatters illegally bedding down in private homes and apartments in the five boroughs - and it's gotten much harder to kick them out.
"Squatters have become far more sophisticated than before. They set up elaborate schemes, fake documents and investigate the homes before breaking in." Two changes in city law in 2019 now dictate that landlords can't just boot a squatter without a "Special proceeding," and have to file a lawsuit to get them out.
9 A squatter strolls out of a home at 160th Street in Queens, a $1 million home taken over by a crew that claimed tenant rights.
Last week, a pair of squatters at a Jamaica duplex sued the legal owners of a $930,000 home, claiming they were locked out despite establishing tenancy - and included a Shake Shack receipt as "Proof." A Queens judge tossed the suit on Friday, but the case left a bitter taste for homeowner Juliya Fulman, who griped about "a very big problem with these criminals and these squatters." In another case in Flushing, squatter Brian Rodriguez demanded an $18,000 ransom to move out of the four-bedroom $1 million house he claimed rights to - with cops even handcuffing the rightful owner when she showed up.
State Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz is sponsoring a bill that gives property owners more muscle to boot squatters and makes squatting a criminal trespassing offense.
"People, especially migrant groups or other groups who are looking to use our laws against us, will use this loophole to hurt law-abiding citizens. The owner of the raided Bronx home said the squatters left the place in disrepair. 9 The owner of the raided Bronx home said the squatters left the place in disrepair. Matthew McDermott Debris litters the backyard of the Bronx home. 9 Debris litters the backyard of the Bronx home. Matthew McDermott "We have a holy trinity right now that we've never had before, which is a cost of living crisis, a housing crisis and the migrant crisis happening in the city at the same time," he said.
9 The home in Jamaica taken over by squatters is just one example of the rash of disputed tenancy cases in the Big Apple.
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