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The “optics” of a homeowner handcuffed after changing the locks on a squatter in her Queens home worth $1 million pushed New York lawmakers to enact a harsh new law to protect property owners, a real estate attorney told Fox News Digital.
A portion of New York’s 2024 state budget agreement, signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul Monday, specifically excludes squatters from tenant protections under state law.
The language defines a squatter as someone staying on a property without permission from its owner or the owner’s representative. This wording, lawmakers said, will make it easier for police to intervene in squatting cases, sparing homeowners months or even years in housing court.
Real estate lawyer Michael Romer told Fox News Digital the case of Brian Rodriguez pushed lawmakers “over the finish line” to pass anti-squatter legislation. Rodriguez had allegedly commandeered and subletted a home in Queens and summoned police to detain owner Adele Andaloro after she tried to change the locks.
Owner Zafar Iqbal, 53, told the New York Post he was left powerless by the squatters who “have more rights” than homeowners. He continues to try to refurbish the property, but the unwelcome guests just “keep coming back.”
“I got a call from the fire department that the house is burnt out. Somebody got in there and torched my house,” he said. “That’s when I found out it was a squatter living there. The squatters have more rights than the homeowners. I’m the owner of the house. How much more can I do? I need help.”
Romer told Fox News Digital he has seen an “uptick” in instances of squatting complaints from clients compared to his earlier 20 years practicing real estate law.
State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton said “no one should return home to find their property seized by squatters, who now have more rights on their property than they do.
“For too long, my constituents have grappled with the current reality where individuals unlawfully occupy their spaces without any recourse. We witness distressing scenarios unfold in the news week after week — hardworking homeowners facing legal repercussions for rightfully reclaiming their own property from individuals who brazenly occupy it without consent.”
