According to a recent poll, most Americans believe that squatters should not be entitled to any rights over property that they do not own. Additionally, a significant number of respondents expressed the opinion that squatters should never have rights, regardless of how long they reside in a particular location.
According to a survey conducted exclusively for Newsweek by Redfield & Wilton Strategies, 61 percent of respondents are against the idea of squatters’ rights in general. Furthermore, among those who consider a current law in New York to be too lenient, 66 percent believe that squatters should “never” be granted rights, regardless of how long they have occupied a property.
In recent times, there have been several notable conflicts between homeowners and squatters, with New York being one of the states that has relatively lenient squatting laws. A recent incident involved Adene Andaloro, a property owner from Flushing, Queens, who was arrested for altering the locks on a house that she had inherited from her parents. Andaloro claimed that squatters were residing in the property.
New York lawmakers are actively advocating for the implementation of stricter legislation to combat the issue of squatters, while the Biden administration emphasizes the importance of local governments taking decisive action. However, experts in the field argue that the reported crisis surrounding squatting is unfounded and merely a result of fearmongering.
According to Geoffrey S. Corn, a professor of criminal law at Texas Tech University’s School of Law, it makes logical sense to tighten laws that prohibit squatting and make the legal process more efficient for ending it. In an email to Newsweek, he stated, “If the people want that, this is how democracy and lawmaking should work.”
State legislatures should make it a priority to clearly communicate the legal boundaries when it comes to self-help actions.
Corn expressed his concern for homeowners who may be tempted to take matters into their own hands.
According to him, there is a clear distinction between implementing a more streamlined legal procedure for evicting squatters and permitting the use of lethal force in such situations. He firmly believes that life always takes precedence over property, even if it involves a squatter or trespasser. As long as there is an option to seek help from law enforcement to handle the unlawful occupation, he finds it highly improbable to justify the use of deadly force as an urgent necessity.
According to a recent poll conducted on April 6 and 7, it appears that there is a growing demand among Americans for stricter squatting laws. The survey, which involved questioning 4,000 eligible voters in the U.S., encompassed individuals of various ages, genders, ethnicities, and education levels.
According to the poll, the majority of respondents (61 percent) expressed their disagreement with the idea of “squatters’ rights.” Of this percentage, 13 percent were simply opposed to the concept, while a larger portion (48 percent) strongly opposed it.
According to the survey, only 18 percent of the participants expressed their support for the concept of squatters’ rights. Out of this group, 8 percent strongly supported the idea, while 10 percent were in favor of it to some extent. On the other hand, a significant portion of the respondents neither supported nor opposed the concept, accounting for 15 percent of the total. Additionally, 5 percent of the participants were unsure about their stance on the issue. It is important to note that the figures presented in the poll have been rounded to the nearest whole number, which is why they may not always add up to exactly 100 percent.
According to the survey, the findings remained consistent when individuals were inquired about their opinions on squatter rights in New York City. These rights can be claimed in a mere 30 days of occupying a property. Similar to the previous question, only 18 percent of respondents somewhat agreed that this time frame was suitable, whereas 61 percent disagreed that 30 days was a reasonable period for squatters to acquire rights to a property they did not own.
When asked about the time frame for granting squatters rights to a home, those who disagreed expressed a more resolute stance. A significant 66 percent of respondents firmly stated that such rights should never be granted.
Some respondents had different opinions on the appropriate time period for granting rights. For example, 14 percent believed that a year would be a suitable timeframe, while 7 percent suggested a waiting period of 5 years. There were also suggestions for longer time periods, such as 10 years (3 percent) and 15 years (2 percent). A small percentage of respondents were unsure about their preferred duration.
