Governor Kathy Hochul took a significant step on Monday morning by signing a portion of the New York State budget. This move will bring about a notable change in how tenants are defined under state law.
Lawmakers argue that the proposed legislation will simplify police intervention in squatting cases, eliminating the need to bring them before housing court.
The new law is now in effect, and it is a result of a series of 7 On Your Side Investigations that shed light on the growing problem.
Both the State Assembly and the State Senate made significant progress over the weekend.
Lawmakers believe that a small change can have a significant impact.
The state’s property law has been amended to address the issue of squatters. The new amendment aims to provide law enforcement with more authority to intervene when individuals enter homes without permission or legal documentation. By removing the need to involve housing courts, the revised law seeks to streamline the process of addressing unauthorized occupants.
7 On Your Side Investigates has extensively covered several instances of individuals being accused of squatting. One recent case resulted in criminal charges in Queens. The exposure of such incidents prompted four lawmakers to take action by introducing anti-squatting legislation. As a result, a last-minute compromise was reached over the weekend.
Senator Blumencranz announced that the budget includes provisions that will prevent squatters from acquiring tenancy rights and establish a legal definition for squatters. This is an important aspect of the legislation we discussed previously.
Blumencranz stressed the significance of journalism taking a stand in cases like this. He emphasized that many of his constituents have silently endured hardships, and without raising awareness through news coverage, these issues would not have gained attention and led to their inclusion in the state budget just three weeks after the initial reporting.
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