In New York, a couple, Denis and Juliya, are embroiled in a legal battle against Lance Hunt Jr. and Rondie L. Francis, who squatted in their  Queens property. 

The squatters, claiming to have leased the property months prior, sued the homeowners after being discovered living in the apartment without permission and equipped with personal belongings. 

Denis and Juliya purchased the property for $530,000 and were preparing it for legitimate tenants when they found the locks changed and squatters inside.

An emergency court hearing was called, during which the squatters’ absence was noted; one was reportedly at work, avoiding potential arrest. 

The court allowed the couple’s new tenants to move in, albeit with a warning of potential complications. This incident highlights property owners’ challenges due to what some call “insane” housing laws that seem to empower squatters.

The squatters provided a forged lease and claimed they had been living there since January, a claim disputed by the property broker and the homeowners. Despite these claims, police warned the homeowners against changing the locks, suggesting the squatters had rights to the property. This stance has outraged the homeowners and their representatives, who see this as a scam exploiting the housing system.

The legal representative for the squatters insists his clients believed they were legitimately renting the property, suggesting they might have been scammed by someone pretending to be the landlord. Meanwhile, the homeowners are considering criminal action and a class action lawsuit against the city for failing to protect property owners from such squatting scams.

The case has spotlighted the broader issue of squatting in New York, with professionals from the real estate industry calling for reforms to protect homeowners and legitimate tenants.