Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-NY, recently signed a portion of the New York State budget that includes a new law aimed at combatting the rising squatting incidents in the state.
Gov. Hochul signed the bill Monday morning, which includes a range of laws and initiatives to address housing market issues. Among these laws was one that made changes to the state's property laws, redefining the word "tenant" to exclude squatters.
While the change may be small, lawmakers said it will make it easier for police to intervene in cases where an individual enters a home without permission from the owner or legal paperwork.
Before, law enforcement could not intervene in squatting issues because it was considered a civil case. Homeowners would have been required to file an eviction lawsuit. The entire process can take up to five months and burden property owners with hefty legal fees.
"Included within our budget is language that will exclude squatters from tenancy rights and define squatters under the law which is a key component of the legislation we spoke about last time," Senator Jake Blumencranz said.
The new bill comes as squatting incidents in the state have risen over the past months. Just last month, a homeowner in Queens was arrested after she attempted to remove a group of squatters from a $1 million property she inherited from her parents. In a separate case, a pair of squatters sued the rightful owners of a $930,000 investment home they took over.
Other Measures Included in the Bill
Apart from addressing the state's squatting incidents, the New York State budget Gov. Hochul signed also included new "Good Cause Eviction" laws, which would allow tenants to take their landlords to court if they raise rental prices by more than 5% or 10% plus inflation. It also gives landlords the power to evict tenants for "gross negligence" if they fail to pay rent or refuse to allow the landlord to make repairs.
The bill would also provide tax exemptions for housing developments with affordable units. Furthermore, New York will also provide discounts on the effective residential tax rates of developers who convert abandoned office buildings into housing.
READ MORE: Here's a Full Look into New York's Plan To Address the State's Housing Affordability Crisis