Squatter Standoff: Inside look at NYC squatters and homeowner rights 

The fact that they still have to pay taxes on a property that someone is living in rent free is infuriating. She did the right thing. I'm proud of her.

This woman should be viewed as a trailblazer. Great job.

Homeowners, if your home is empty check your properties, to make sure your protected.

The homeowner should sue the state!!

Outstanding job channel 7 NYC 👍👍

Why people have to pay property tax if your property dont get protected by the government

the squatters will get their free rent IN PRISON

We need changes nationwide.

The court system is completely broken. They need to build new courthouses and/or hire more judges. The courts are just completely overwhelmed. I sued a tenant I had to evict in small claims court in February of 2023. The initial court date was October 2023. Which got rescheduled to December 2023, and finally February, 2024. When I went to court, the former tenant of course didn't show up. But everyone in NY is entittled to two appearances, so the case was adjourned until June 2024. Now I just received notice that the case is again rescheduled to October 2024. Assuming that I do indeed have a hearing in October, that's 20 months for a 15 minute open and shut case, which the former tenant will likely not even appear for.

That lawyer is a disgrace

Good job channel 7 thanks a million, helping for home owners

Much needed legislation on this matter. Good job NY7 & the homeowner who put up a fight and never gave up.

This makes me FURIOUS.

Please give the police tools. Please make the database so this insanity stops.

These property laws are extortion. I had tenants who wouldn't leave specifically BECAUSE of the laws. It is my personal home where I had a side hustle, and the tenants were doing things that were causing me health issues, hence why I ended the lease. Why shouldn't I have more rights in my personal home than grifters??? Tried to talk to my councilwoman, who apparently is too busy to speak to me, yet national organizations were able to get back to me within a day or two. Philly city council apparently thinks what I'm going thru is a special case. Clearly not. My former tenants had no financial issues or barriers that prevented them from finding alternative housing, just claimed victimhood like those squatters. The only reason they left is because I made it clear I'll raise hell, and it won't be a comfortable stay. I was very nice with them until I wasn't.

The arrogance from the Flores guy!!!

If I’m 10 days late on my rent I get a 14-day eviction notice, then on the 24th I would get a court date before the 1st of the next month, not even a full 30 days late. Then the judge will rule in favor of the landlord….how does someone with a lease get evicted within 30 days but these squatter situations can take two years to get them out? (Long Island, NY)

she needs to sue the local government for this bs. This woman deserves a settlement

Frell squatters. I'll never understand why these interlopers have any rights at all.

What is wrong with our justices system these days ,why in the hell do squatters have rights if you don’t pay rent then you should be kicked out if you we’re never invited wow

A squatter is a thief. Get a job. No property owner should be arrested because they want their home. This is pure insanity. No legal loopholes, no rights, no thieves allowed to get away with this

If they can easily tell who own your vehicle based on registration, why can't they do the same for homes?

Someone breaking in and stealing a home, is totally different from renter issue. Protect the homeowner. A bogus rental agreement is about due diligence on tenant's part.

The squatters rights has to be the most F ing ridiculous law ever created. I would go bat shit crazy and probably do something very illegal myself

Who came up with 30 day for squatters. Weirdest law

She should sue the police terrible and very sad

To hear a Senate or House of Representative say that "they never new this was happening" is shocking, with as many complaints that have been on the news for the past few years. To ensure across the American States that all representatives and council people are aware, ALL homeowners and apartment owners, who are presently facing this issue, should go to their representatives website and file a complaint with their evidentiary documents of criminal squatters on their property. As well, contact their local news stations investigation team to highlight their story of illegal squatters. The Laws/Bill for Anti-Squatting need to be signed across the American States. What kind of interns are working in those offices that they don't highlight such issues from the local communities???

In Michigan, squatters took over my parent’s house when they moved out of State. These trespassers did tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage. They destroyed plumbing, tore up and burned floorboards and pieces of furniture in the wood stove, had animals urinate and defecate on all the carpets, left the door open so snow drifts swelled the hall floor, left dead animals and damage from rats that took over and even chewed the cupboard doors when the squatters finally vacated, etc. I lived hours away, and when my parents rented the home to me, I walked into a nightmare. Each room was filled with garbage. They got away with it. It took me over two years to undo the damage. 😱🥺🤦🏽‍♀️

Get your guns and protect your property.

If someone rents a home from someone other than the legal homeowner or leasee that is Their problem. The scammer who rented out a home/room illegally has comitted a felony. Is nothing sacred??? Renters should be instructed to keep a copy of their lease handy to show the police.

Great commentary. This is were I had to laugh: owner has the proper documentation and a thief doesn't. Owner with proper documentation gets arrested. Journalist asked the thief "show me a lease." The thief shows bills, according to journalist. This situation should have been handled by the police officer: owner with proper documentation and thief doesn't. Escort thief off the premises and tell the thief"take the owner to civil and/or housing court." Who was the lady, who open the door? It's obvious, she had something to do with this situation. Personally, I would sue the police, the thief and the mystery woman with a key. As for the politicians, they finally got something halfway right. LMAO

Seeing that homeowner in handcuffs and the squatter smirking and being protected by the cops was simply infuriating and disgraceful. To think my tax dollars pay his salary is disgraceful. Where was his lease. How about asking the squatter to show proof of residence.

These laws are all by design. They don’t want you owning a home and making money collecting rent. So it’s discouraging future home buyers that want to buy their house and then maybe rent it so it pays itself off while you buy another house for you to live in, and be well off. Remember “You will own nothing and be happy”

Now sue congress for all damages and sue the squatters!! Good luck!

Reason # 1000 I will never be a landlord in nyc. Born and raised here and I seen first hand how human greed and narcissism is used to take advantage of the system. Tenant & Squater rights do serve a purpose but it needs to be revamped and airtight so that if you have no legal basis then NYPD can immediately escort you out. We need a law almost identical to the one that Florida recently past….

Criminals should have no rights.

America is a messed up country

These stories make me so angry, deep down to my core.

We all know if it were one of the lawmakers homes, well we all know the squatters laws would be much more strict.

Great job channel 7!

Need to also need speedy landlord tenant laws as well. Stop adjourning cases and dragging lawyer fees, etc.

amazing, effective investigative journalism

Did they really say it can take up to 2 years for the eviction process? The homeowner is definitely a very brave person and an amazing example of doing what is needed for the overall good in society. Hopefully she stays safe.

Other States need to follow suit on this issue.

Unfortunately, it took her to make things change. Pretty amazing.

$300 Simplysafe System makes a world of difference! When that alarm goes off, thats burglary!

Ill be damned... I live in rural PA... This absolutely would not fly. It is sickening our politicians have total ignored and in most cases even encouraged this insanity.

what a STUPID LAW!!!!

Amazing job!!!! Kudos!!! Adele, the news people, and the Queens DA are all heroes! A housing advocate who agrees with squatter situations? Oye. Hey! Move into the advocates house then!

Everyone is complaining about rent rise and unaffordable. Here is the reason. It's not worthy to be a landlord in NYC. In the future, if you don't have 40 times of reliable income, 750 credits. You won't find the house. For those tenants, elderly, with children, you can't find a house too. The law is protecting bad people but hurting these people.

Instead of "simple changes", the squatter laws should be abolished completely, retroactive for homeowners who have been trying to get rid of squatters for weeks, months and years.

All leases should have to be notarized. Should have to include the legal owners documentation of ownership and the right of the leasing agent to lease the property. Cop knock, say “we think you are a squatter! Do you have a notarized lease?” If you can produce one, you can stay until seen in court. If no, you are out immediately, until court.

These types of laws that were passed in NY where the homeowners have the rights to their own property and not the squatters, should happen in all 50 states! Thank you ABC7NY for exposing the truth about this homeowner who tried to kick these squatters out of her property!

Have a wonderful neighbor to help you- no one wants to be robbed! Our neighbor was so good to us! Could never have done it without her! Love her forever!

I will NEVER buy property in this country. And I was born here.

And this right here is one of the reasons why people are flying the American flag upside down, and that's just one reason over a ton of reasons.

Excellent work 🕵🏻‍♂️

The fact they have rights and then the homeowner has to pay to keep the power on is mind blowing

There is no incentive to be a law abiding citizen.

THANKYOU FOR GIVING US OUR PROPERTY RIGHTS BACK.

This I'd so decussing I can't even Finnish watching it .this got to STOP .a war .

Well I know for a fact. They wouldn’t be in my house.

I'm disturbed that the tv crew had video footage of these men breaking the door and putting their hands on the homeowner, and that lying about it didn't damage their credibility with the cops on the scene.

This second man and his lawyer smile as they say "he just needs money for his family, then will do something". What garbage! We ALL need money and homes and all sorts of things, but it is not on anyone else to get it for you. It is your job to care for you and your family, not your right to squat or demand from people endlessly. I am not mean or un- gracious or stingy, and I don't want anyone to suffer unnecessarily . But it cannot mean that your issues are now going to become mine to fix. I have my own burdens and problems, and I have never been at your door asking you or demanding from you that you fix them for me. See how nice I am?, follow that example for yourself.

Check on your property and keep it maintained so it doesn’t appear abandoned. Having a couch and bed or a bed and kitchen table for example works for insurance purposes. Additionally, keep furniture in the property. That way the insurance company won’t consider it abandoned after 6 months if you need to file a claim for say vandalism caused by squatters or anything that may need covered if something happens.

You can't steal a loaf of bread to feed your children, but can steal an entire house!!!!

yes, the homeowner won at a very high cost. Imagine the financial and mental stress she went through because the housing law is flawed. The time spent, the sleepless nights, the mental agony of arguing with this low lives, the attorney fees, the housing repairs, etc. Life should be simple, if a person have no proof then you have no rights. Imagine if a person left his car, then someone drive it around and claims that he has now rights, now the thief will not leave unless court orders it. This is plain STUIPID. Crime pays a lot right and now and the police/law is NOT being respected anymore because social and news media have portrayed some of them as thugs.

Change the battery in the smoke alarm.

If you sign a bogus lease, that's YOUR fault! That shouldn't be a valid defense.

Bloody Ridiculous!! It's NOT squatting, it's ILLEGAL CRIMINAL TRESSPASSING, UGH!!!

Proof of payment or last payment should be the defining factor. Then produce the lease. Without that you are a criminal..

Why are the squatters never made to present documents of tenancy and proof that rent was paid and to whom? As soon as the owners show their legal documents of ownership, it's up to the courts to establish the homeowners right of possession and if squatters cannot show legal documents showing they're rightfully living in someone else's house, it's game over!! "housing advocates" are always young, possibly university students, who think one way, that people are entitled to live wherever they want. NO they're not. Those of us who own homes and pay the bills do not owe ANYONE a free house. Gtfoh.

I live in Senior community complex and we have a young lady who lived with her father and her father passed away. She was not on the lease and since her father has passed away, she refuses to move out, stuck with her right now. We have two other ladies that won’t pay their rent when needs to be out by the 14th and another lady has to go back to court two more times. These people just think they could do whatever they want. They have to go to jail.

Great reporting!

It’s good now because his name and his image is part of the Internet he’ll find it very difficult to rent a place from this point on or even to get into a place to live

I live in Senior community complex and we have a young lady who lived with her father and her father passed away. She was not on the lease and since her father has passed away, she refuses to move out, stuck with her right now.

I have heard homeowners state they would rather light a match than allow squatters rob them. I heard about a family going on a 2 day vacation, and squatters moved In as soon as they left, 8 months later, the family is still homeless and at least 6 squatters are dealing drugs out of the house.

I don't get this whole squatter thing. What happened to property rights ? what happened to breaking and entering laws?

Great job eyewitness news !!! We need better laws !

These cops are a disgrace. An embarrassment to their family.

If you are a squatter I would just assume nobody is going to notice when you go missing

NOW WE ALSO HAVE THE ILLEGALS DOING THIS AND THE GOVERNMENT PROTECTING THEM, PROVIDING LEGAL ASSISTANCE WHEN SOME HOMEOWNERS CANT AFFORD A LAWYER. HERE IN PHILADELPHIA (A SANCTUARY CITY) VENEZUELANS HAVE BEEN TAKING BUILDINGS AND HOMES, BUT WE DONT SEE THAT ON THE NEWS.

I live in gilroy California and this happens over here all the time my landlord, the manager of our property is in a pickle, a big pickle

It's crazy that squatter has right in a other pp home

Very informitive . I know a lady here in Tennesee also a Lawyer in New York who still argues about this. I may be misinformed of the Law however, She simply won't listen, like a child.

All Squatters should do jail time period!!

When selling a property in the states - does it not go through solicitors so checks are done on the people selling the properties - that they actually own them to sell in the first place, any taxes owed, boundary lines, services provided, any problems with apartment blocks etc.etc.? That someone can purchase a house / rent a house off a scammer & have more rights than someone who obeys the law? IF the house is legally yours and went through the legal proceeding for purchasing it - DON'T pay the bills / utilities - CUT the services off. If there was a resident in it - he should have been given notice. People can always change service providers - MAKE the service provider prove who they made the contract with. If you must pay for the services used - do it & if you you have to pay a fine for breaking the contract & leaving early do it. A SERVICE PROVIDER also makes a contract with you so they're not honouring it - DON''T PAY for something you're NOT GETTING - IT'S FRAUD. A no trespassing sign isn't a deterrent. You could buy 10 signs like - no entry, beware of the dog, no tresspassing - criminals / squatters don't take notice of these. If you're not in a house you MUST HAVE / NEED SECURITY CAMERAS / SYSTEMS THAT WORK. Connect in with a security company. HAVE A TRUSTED NEIGHBOUR / FRIEND that can keep an eye on the property for you. IT'S VERY OBVIOUS to a criminal / squatter that a house isn't in use - so take precautions.

That is absurd to put a homeowner in jail. Our system is extremely broken. Owners have no rights.

There's a women who had a repair guy fixing things in her home. After he completed his work, she paid him and then went to visit her mother in another state. While visiting her mother their family decided that the mother needed to move in with the daughter. So she calls her repaired guy and let him know that she had some things she needed him to do to make sure that it was comfortable for her mother IE handrails throughout the house. In turn he moved in, took possession of her home. A neighbor even called the local police and said she thought something had happened to her neighbor; she did not realize that the neighbor had went to visit her mother. This guy sold all her personal belongings so that he could buy drugs. To make short of a thing it has taken over 2 years for her to get possession of her home. Unfortunately they are having to pay to have somebody come in there ; in EPA suits; due to all the drug use and the residue from the drugs. She cannot even move in with her mother. The home was so badly contaminated with a variety of other things too. The home has been condemned until the cleanup is finished.

This lady got a law "reworded", yet still it caused others to stand up and other states are now changing their laws.

No he needs to get out of her house. You don't come to America and say hey I am move in to a house that does not belongs to me what is wrong this country

Leases or rent agreements, should have to be registered with the state or real estate, attorneys or agents, depending on the state that the police can use to determine if a person is a renter or squatter

How she going to jail for people who is in her house

This makes no sense... so anyone can falsify a work order and then take over the house? If the signatures don't match the homeowners signature, contract is void!

I couldn't even finish watching this video, too disturbing.

Lawmakers are always so quick to brag and take credit for doing absolutely nothing. I cant stand them. Hooray for this woman that she had a good resolution but most people still wont with these present laws.

Sue the lawmakers.

Our congress should have taken care of the squatter problem in 2021 and on with a bill.....but no, congress has been playing political games due to not agreeing with anything!!

Police need to get enabled to protect rightful homeowners and remove squatters. Homeowners need to get restitution and restoration for the damage that squatters do to their homes.

This madness ticks me off. No squatters should have a right to someone's home. Laws need to be changed concerning this craziness. SMH!