Beating the Squatter Epidemic - WSJ Editorial
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Squatters are moving into people’s homes uninvited, and once in they can be almost impossible to dislodge. We saw this in New York last week: When Adele Andaloro tried to rid the house she inherited from her parents of squatters by changing the locks, the cops led her away in handcuffs. The squatters could still make themselves at home.
It’s happening all over. In Georgia, Paul Callins found squatters had moved into his home and changed the locks while he was away caring for his sick wife. In Texas, Houston schoolteacher Amberlyn Prather and her family used a fake lease to occupy a Houston home. In California, Flash Shelton retook his mother’s house by moving in when the squatters were out—and then claimed squatter’s rights himself. Two squatters were arrested Friday in connection with the murder of Nadia Vitel after she confronted them in her late mother’s Manhattan apartment this month.
The problem is that most places have laws that give squatters rights after 30 days. If they claim to be tenants, the homeowner usually has to get a court order to evict them, which can take weeks. Until then the cops can’t do anything because squatting is a civil matter.
“Squatting in years past was something that generally took place when homes were abandoned or simply ignored and uncared for,” says David Howard, chief executive officer for the National Rental Home Council (NRHC). “Squatters were typically individuals that were literally in need of shelter from the storm. What we’re seeing now is intentional acts of trespassing by people who know how to work the system.”
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The squatters are manipulating the legal system to abuse a fundamental right to property. A legal system that is time consuming and expensive works against actual homeowners. They can’t get the squatters out or prevent them from inflicting costly damage. Without the power to remove people squatting in their homes, property rights become meaningless.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/beating-the-squatter-epidemic-migrants-home-invasion-ec3775f9?st=uxb5c87h5t86mit&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
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This Queens woman was arrested for trying to keep squatters out of her home by changing the locks — she was reportedly charged with 'unlawful eviction' and the internet response was heated
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/this-queens-woman-was-arrested-for-trying-to-keep-squatters-out-of-her-home-by-changing-the-locks-she-was-reportedly-charged-with-unlawful-eviction-and-the-internet-response-was-heated/ar-BB1kEpIF
Adele Andaloro inherited her family’s home in Flushing, Queens after her parents passed away. As she was preparing to sell the property, squatters took over, installing a new front door and changing the locks, effectively locking her out of her childhood home.
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According to New York state law, squatters are “classified as tenants and receive temporary rights as such” after occupying a property for 30 days.
