Clifton Park and Saratoga County unveiling new legislation to protect property owners
We have been following a growing number of stories across the country about a growing phenomenon. A person or group of people identify a home that is currently not inhabited. They let themselves in and take over the home as their own. They are known as Squatters. In some circumstances, squatters have taken the additional step of subleasing a room in the home they have entered without invitation from the actual owner of the property. The interesting aspect of these situations is when the actions of squatters is reported there seems to be some indifference or confusion about who actually belongs in the home. A woman in New York was recently arrested because she was trying to remove squatters and change the locks– to a HOME SHE LEGALLY OWNS! Some governments in areas of the country have taken the position that squatters have rights. Therefore, what these governmental officials are asserting is if someone illegally enters your home without your invitation their ability to remain in the home rivals your ability to enter the home as the rightful owner.
With all the continued talk of liberal and conservative beliefs and picking sides of the ideological spectrum, it seems I am increasingly finding myself just trying to apply common sense to life’s circumstances. That practice applies with the squatting situation. I was reminded of an old saying I heard many years ago:
“There are two kinds of stupid. Someone who runs naked into the woods and howls at the moon and the person who does it in my living room. One you can avoid without a problem. The other you need to deal with.”
Squatters are not people walking through your yard or neighborhood. They are in our living rooms. Therefore, we need to deal with it. I am submitting legislation for Town Board consideration to protect Clifton Park property owners from invasion of our personal property. There will also be new legislation to be considered by the Board of Supervisors on the County level. I have asked our Town attorneys and County attorneys to work together. This initiative will be a process of developing solid legislation to protect Clifton Park and all of Saratoga County. As we work together on the Town/County levels, with my colleagues around the County providing their input, I am confident we will have a great product at the end of the process.
We will do everything possible to protect our property owners from this new element of chaos spreading across NYS and our country. Some property owners who have found themselves becoming a victim of squatters, have actually chosen to hire someone who will drive out the squatters from the home. People who provide these services will enter the home with the squatters and make the stay of the uninvited visitors so uncomfortable they eventually leave. For example, he will declare they will now film a reality show and he begins to video record the squatters. He will continually blast loud music or perform other annoying activities. How ridiculous is this subject matter when the easiest and quickest route to get these property intruders to leave and regain control of your property is to hire someone to become an annoying squatter.
If you are planning to leave your home inhabited for any length of time be sure you have someone watching the property closely and often. Other important tips include: purchase a locking mailbox to preclude your mail from being infiltrated and install a quality camera system that will provide the exact moment the squatters arrived.
This squatting effort is now becoming a coordinated cottage industry. Organized groups are identifying properties that are uninhabited for even a short period of time and then sending people in to become squatters. Therefore, in areas where the governments take the stand that squatters have rights, this illegal activity will grow.
We will do everything in our power to protect our property owners under the name of common sense. The Home Intrusion Prevention legislation will provide additional protections and allow for local government to more easily identify the rightful property owner.
The Squatter Lobby will tell any government entity who attempts to apply common sense protections the new laws are not permissible. WE need to stem the chaos in New York everywhere we can. If we don’t there will eventually be nothing left. Except for the chaos.
Clifton Park and Beyond 