How to protect your homes and keep squatters out 

How do you protect your home from squatters? CHANGE THE LAW!!

If they entered illegally, how come it is legal for them to stay?

the fact that squatters have rights In the first place IS THE PROBLEM

The words "squatters rights" is crazy to even repeat, let alone it be a law to protect a trespassing criminal.

At this point, what’s the purpose of government? Why even pay taxes?

First mistake, telling the cops they're squatters. Tell them they're burglars after you"ve dealt with them!

I'm glad squatters are finally seen in a negative light now. When squatters came in my house in Queens during Covid, everyone was saying "housing is a human right." It took me 3.5 years to get those squatters out. I'll never buy another house in NYC again

Desantis just passed a bill to protect homeowners from squatters. Why can’t Hochul do this?

My favorite part was when she said (with a straight face): "inform the police if you are going to leave your house for an extended period of time."

DO NOT advertise in Zillow, MLS, etc. that it's vacant. If you're renting it out, state that it's occupied with a current renter, even if it's not true. Have a rental agreement with a family member, trusted neighbor, friend, or even a hire housesitter to occupy the place.

Squatters dont have no rights. WE OWNERS HAVE RIGHTS!!

Thank god for this lady,she brought this to light

Why is unlawful eviction a crime? Why isn't it a civil matter? A No Trespassing sign won't work if the squatter pretends they have a lease or permission from the owner. Once the squatter makes a claim - even a false claim - the police will most likely tell you it's a civil matter and you'll have to counter their claim of a lease or permission in court.

the video went soo viral that people overseas have seen it.

Welcome to NYC, where the law sides with the criminals.

what happened to common sense?

who makes these stupid laws? Squatters have rights and home owners don't? This country is so messed up.

I saw that opening story. Has anyone Identified that man who stole the lady's house and had her arrested? Is anyone shaming him? If he had a job, was he fired? There's no reason his face shouldn't be EVERYWHERE so EVERYONE knows what a piece of Shhhhhh he is.

Squatters stink. The laws need to change. Ppl need to complain to your state lawmakers.

How about the law takes the homeowners side?

Take away squatters rights! Keep criminals locked up!!

It is not the late 1800's. End squatters rights across the nation. I just contacted my local and state leaders to find out how to get a bill introduced into the State House in Maryland to update and change the law to end squatters having any rights and call them what they are trespassers.

All squatters will break into landlords' properties and process fate documents. A law triple penalizing these behaviors, freezing enough funds progressively from the suspects' accounts for rent and possible damage to the properties plus removing the 30 days occupation law can easily deter these criminals. Why is so difficult?

Pass a law like Florida just did. Why can they do it there but not here?

I have the SimpliSafe security system at my business it’s all wireless and easy to move. If I had rental properties, vacation home or any property that I’m not using I would put one of these systems in they even have cameras. It’s 30 bucks a month.

It should not be a court matter but a trespassing, break in enter , vandalism , or doing work on a home that is not yours , and it should be a police matter , immediate expulsion !

It's nothing unfair about it if the house doesn't belong to you. You don't have any rights to be there. Im not sure what's so hard to understand.

I hired local gang memfirst gave them a $1000.Said get them out no matter what you have to do. I never even called the cops. For some reason the squatters decided to leave after about three days

Move to FL... NEVER thought I'd say that

So how can squatters prove they “lived there” for at least 30 days?

Do what the gov of florida just did, omg how hard is it?

1. Make bed 2. Lie in it

How did we get here

we need petition for this. this is ridiculous for let squatters staying in the house for 30 days.

Wait till squatter leaves, then go in the home and refuse to leave, and start putting up cameras over the home. Eventually they move , irritated being on camera and having to live with the owner (or your biggest, toughest looking friend) Just *Don't Serve Them Notice legally to start the eviction process beforehand... saw a guy do this for his mom's house and he's become quite popular on RU-vid. He explains it all on his site.

This is what America becomes?

It is such BS. We went through this problem before. When my wife's mom let her friend stay for a few weeks because he needed a place to stay. After that he was playing the squatting card. After my wife's mom passed it only got worse with him. He held his ground because of the law. Even though he had no proof with a lease. As long as it shows that he received mail over a certain amount of time we couldn't do anything. It is such a problem. That has to be dealt with. If these people can't show that, then they should be forced out. It is about time this changed

Hire an attorney gives squatters a free 6+ months to live in the property free. They know it. I’m glad laws are changing. They need to be instantly removed. Vacant does not mean break in. It’s a break in.

6 month no pay rent = squatters

Good job guys

Similar to what the Gov of Florida has done as that is what a leader is supposed to do. He and his team saw an issue (criminal opportunistic squatters, antiquated law) for those who put them in office and they immediately solved yesterday the citizens problem. Squatting criminals should be charged with an immediate FELONY and minimum one year jail time plus restitution to the legal owners. EVERY other Governor must immediately do the same. Legal Homeowners WHO pay the property taxes, mortgages, licenses, etc., to run these cities are dying defending their legal property and others are going to jail. Many have had to pay thousands of dollars in legal and repair bills. Every Mayor, Senator, Representative MUST take note and take immediate action to protect the mom and pop homeowner or small investor. The police have hands tied without a State Law in place to abolish squatters.

This feels like a slam dunk issue for politicians to take on. How about our Government protect us with the tax dollars we pay. Why should we live in fear.

I also recommend emailing the photos you take to your email and another person. Just in case you lost your phone or the phone broke. Also have another device like another phone and show the date and time so its in the image. The date and time is recorded in the meta data of the image but its also good to have it in the image also. Texting a image might remove the meta data. Facebook removes meta data because they compress images for data storage.

MY TOWN LOCKED UP MY HOUSE LIKE SQUATTERS AND TOOK THIS HAND❤DICAPPED 78 YEAR OLD WOMAN TO SLEEP IN THE STREET AND BE HOMELESS EVEN THOUGH HOUSE WAS PAID UP.😢

In superior states like Texas or Florida. Would be squatters risk their lives trying to break in and squat Stand your ground laws apply here

What if the property owner gets their own squatters

If you have a home to rent, never list the address in the ad. Don't give out the address without first meeting the prospective tenants and getting their basic info. Befriend the neighbors and enlist their help in looking after the home. They don't want squatters either.

Such bs this is America. Dont just put one camera up. Put cameras up that covers the entire perimeter. Squatters often gain access from an unlocked window. Also, put in an alarm system if u can afford it. Trying to get a squatter out is so costly and expensive. And your property may get trashed too. So do what you can to protect your property!!! Also, talk to the neighbors. Ask them to keep an eye out on your property.

How did that law even come about? At what point was it put into place that squatters have rights over homeowners? What event took place?! This is a Government problem that has fallen on hard-working homeowners hands/ responsibility. We need affordable housing for people that don’t have the means to survive so we can avoid this growing problem.

This should be brought up to EVERY STATE’s representatives/senators.

Here in Florida we’re protected ❤

Are the police and the judges so stupid?!!! The first question is who gave you the list? If the owner didn’t give you a list and there’s no record between the criminal and the landlord. Does people are just criminals and knows how to play the law and the law maker’s are the ones enabling them

Why does the government not protect homeowners? like I wouldn’t buy a home in New York at all

How can get the public services?

Couldnt a squatter just say the sing was down when they moved in? What good is a time stamp on 4/10 when the squatter says I moved in on 4/11 after they ripped down the sign?

My mother used “squatters law” in NYC back in the 1950’s and1960’s to ILLEGALY EVICT TENANTS. Any tenant that made a compliant or was late on their rent, she would Lock then out(illegally) then say they were squatters!!! NYPD cops would back Her up or help her eject tenants( the usually price for an NYPD COP WAS $20). IF THEY WENT TO COURT the usual price for a judge was $75. Aa a 6 year old I knew it was time to pay the judge, after court I always got an ice cream cone. TENANTS ALWAYS LOST AND NEVER GOT BACK INTO THEIR ROOM.

Unless law makers change / remove squatters “rights” do not buy properties with squatters’ rights states.

this happened to me years ago

Im a home owner in the Bronx ,our property is adjacent to another house, now that house has a squatter living in it . He has lied so much it’s disgusting . If it’s a nightmare for us the neighbor house dealing with this disgusting property cuz the owners cant get inside to clean it because the squatter has a chain and padlock on the gate i can only imagine how the owners feel , civil court isn’t cheaper and lawyer fees either .that property has so many sanitation tickets even DOB complaints and who has to fort the bill the owners not the squatter living in there for free for almost according to him 10 yrs which its a lie cuz we’ve been living here for 22yrs and i could say he’s only been there for making 8yrs rent free..and its ridiculous sanitation cant see the backyard to that property which is a breeding ground to rats and raccoons so much garbage .we have called the owners but they say their hands are tied because they squatter wont let them in and they are in the court process which its been 3 yrs and he is still living in there ,we have even had the squatter throw garbage on our property , we was forced to place a camera facing the house cuz he cant be trusted .. he throws buckets or urine in the front yard and it smells so bad in the summer ,its been 3 yrs we cant really enjoy our own property because he has become such an impossible person .he also has many illegal activities going on . We’ve had people looking for him ring our doorbell looking for him ,it’s very uncomfortable and scary that we get mistaken as if we living with that squatter ..we are even afraid to go on vacation in fear he might get one of his buddies hoop our gate and break into our house and start squatting..i just don’t understand house criminals have rights…trying to take over someone property is a crime.. people hard work $$ goes into buying a property and a low life gets to have some type of rights over that property where he didnt put a dime to purchase that home!! ALL SQUATTERS NEED TO BE REMOVED.! If you dont have an update lease with the current home owner GET REMOVED!!! Con Edison shouldn’t be used as proof ,anyone could put their name on a con Edison bill…

Easiest way to avoid squatters? Don't purchase extra properties.

Pull the electric meter watt hour reader off the panel. The glass thing with gauges. Then place a lock cover over so they can put a coin in. But, if they do that is a clear sign they are squatting.

The first thing they teach in law school is that when the problem ends, the lawyers stop getting paid.

Install cameras inside and outside your home Add bolt locks to all the doors Set the alarm . You need sensors on windows and doors Turn off garage door That’s what I can think of

Honestly, I think that would dtive me nuts. After one works so hard!! OH HELL NO!! I think I would handle this in a very different manner. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

No tresspassing sign with time stamp is great!

The law states that a squatter becomes a tenant after 30 days but what about a non paying tenant after 30 days or more becoming a squatter?!?! Because this is also happening on a daily basis.

I REALLY WONDERS THAT IT GORS FOR THE PEOPLES WHO ARE HEADS OF THE HOUSEHOLDS IN ANOTHER WORD IF THE SQUATTERS ARE IN YOUR APARTMENT IN SUCH A THREE FAMILY APARTMENT BUILDING?

I'd vote for anyone who would do 3 things. Tough on crime, passes immediate kick out squatter law, and immediate quick out non-paying tenants. don't care what their other stances are.

Vote for politicians that are willing to change the laws to stop the insanity

They should also impose a 30 days jail time for first time offense squatters. Then 60, 90, 120, etc... for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc..

I wish I had a spare house with squatters.

why not just hire a squatter to out squat the squatter... like a professional squatter that signs a contract once the other squatter leaves they leave too and pay them instead of the courts then maybe courts will start changing laws bc they will be losing money by no more court cases

You also have people who have to leave their property because of a family emergency or go on a vacation for a week to only find these squatters in the home.

if they don't pay rent then the landlord has the right to kick them out

Absolutely insane!

The key to defending yourself is the higher the squatter hunter or the squatter squad, you're welcome.

But this it nothing because when oner don't pay the property taxes some one bay your tax and want to get your home its really sickness

Stop the police from arresting homeowners whose parents own the property for 30 years! The cops were enthusiastic in arresting me. They and the “ tenant” lost in court. It was $5000 well spent. The squtter did slip on my knuckles.

Any new Yorkers are welcome to Florida here we don’t need to call the cops for a situation like that. 🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫

Bill is gaining traction? Publish the names of any "representative" in the way. Get this done! FL and GA leading the way? What an embarrassment.

Protect your home, find out which politicians support theses laws and vote them out. NY try voting Republican and follow Florida Law.

When a Squatter gets "Deleted" by a Militant Homeowner who aint having it......then things will start moving.

More people should be moving to Florida where Governor DO PROTECT their constituents, Not Criminals, like NY.

To anyone defending these laws, you're a part of the reason real estate prices and rents are up so much. Squatters rights used to make some sense long ago, but the world has changed. Now these rules must change to meet the times.

Help!!!!!!

why would anyone paying rent? just become a squatter.

The best place to squat is: Chinatown, Howard Beach , Brighton Beach, Regina Park, Forest Hills. ………..

Not the most useful "suggestions" on how to protect your home. Most those things might help you win an eviction case, but you'd still have to go to court for things like Video footage to matter. And those are the courts that are backed up for years to hear your case. Mean while you have to not only allow the squatters to remain, often have to keep paying utilities, taxes etc for people illegally in your home. Even the 30 day thing is iffy. The squatters can easily lie, just like they do with a lease of how long they have been there. Again such things would only come out in court, which requires months if not years to happen. The biggest issue is not just preventing squatters, but the complete lack of legal consequences of squatting. There seems to be no charges or actions done to squatters even after they are finally evicted. Even if they lived there rent free for years, destroyed the property or any other number of crimes.

Set up your house like the movie, Home Alone

Owners any where are not protector by the law propertys owner mantiene the home

This lady has lost it. She is mistaken a trespasser for tenant.

You tell the police” I don’t know what happened, it just went off” problem solved

Would the police even keep record of you going on vacation tho?

At some point I think law enforcement are going to say to their commanders this law is ridiculous and I don't think I'm going to arrest a home owner for this. You can go ahead and do it yourself.

Why buy or rent a home when you can squat any property.

Damn right the early European settlers had a right to claim unclaimed property.

If government officials had this problem at one of their multiple homes they’d be changing the laws ASAP

There's no law we live in a lawless country!!!

Who were the morons who didn't allow this law to change 10 years ago.

Don't leave your property unoccupied