Governor Kathy Hochul took action on Monday morning by signing a portion of the New York State budget that brings about a significant change in the way tenants are defined under state law.
Lawmakers assert that this legislation will streamline the process for law enforcement to address squatting incidents, eliminating the need to navigate the complexities of housing court.
The new law is now in effect, following a series of 7 On Your Side Investigations that shed light on the escalating issue.
Over the weekend, the State Assembly and the State Senate both took action.
Lawmakers believe that a small adjustment can bring about significant consequences.
The state’s property law has been amended, with a vote in favor of the change. The amendment states that “a tenant should not include a squatter.” The aim of this amendment is to facilitate police intervention in cases where individuals enter a home without permission or legal paperwork, eliminating the need to take them to housing court.
7 On Your Side Investigates has covered multiple cases involving individuals accused of squatting. One recent case in Queens resulted in criminal charges. As a result of these reports, four lawmakers introduced anti-squatting legislation. This prompted a last-minute compromise over the weekend.
Senator Blumencranz announced that the budget includes provisions to prevent squatters from obtaining tenancy rights. This is a crucial aspect of the legislation we discussed in our previous conversation.
Blumencranz emphasized the significance of journalism taking a proactive role in cases like this. He acknowledged that many of his constituents have been silently enduring hardships and emphasized that without the news shedding light on these matters, the state budget would not have addressed them so promptly, just three weeks after the initial reporting.