A New Yorker’s best defense against squatters? A flimsy plastic sign that costs a few dollars.
A local newscaster encouraged homeowners to obtain “no trespassing” signs to deter potential squatters from moving in and occupying their homes uninvited.
“This was $3.47 at the hardware store. It’s a ‘No Trespassing’ sign” ABC 7 Eyewitness News Nina Pineda He said this during Thursday’s broadcast. “You can display this in a place where it can be seen from the street, such as your front door or property line.
“But here’s the catch: Take a photo of the sign with a time stamp, because what you want to prove to the police is that the sign was installed before the squatters moved in,” Pineda said. said, adding that home security cameras are also an important tool to fight home intruders.
In New York City, people can claim “squatter rights” (the legal right to live in a home) after living there for just 30 days, even without evidence or the owner’s permission.
The law was originally intended to protect long-term tenants from eviction, but it also requires property owners to take the issue to housing court, which is often backed up, while police are left helpless. There is.
Homeowners are legally prohibited from changing locks, cutting off utility services, or removing tenant’s belongings.
A series of high-profile break-ins in the Big Apple and cities across the country are raising serious concerns about current laws.
In one incident, a Queens property owner was arrested and handcuffed for changing the locks on his home after a group of intruders moved into the $1 million home he inherited from his mother.
While New Yorkers are told to arm themselves with cameras and plastic lawn signs, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Wednesday aimed at giving homeowners more power to deal with squatters. did.
The new law, which goes into effect on July 1, gives police the power to quickly remove individuals from homes if they cannot produce documentation, such as a rental agreement, to prove they are living there.
Back in New York, state Rep. Jake Blumenkranz (R-Limited) introduced a bill that would clarify the legal definition of a tenant to exclude squatters. The bill defines squatters as trespassers and would allow police officers to remove them from premises.
Similar state legislation failed a decade ago, but this bill has bipartisan support.
Pineda also said homeowners should notify their local police department if their home will be vacant for an extended period of time.
