NY state assemblyman Jake Blumencranz proposes anti-squatting bill after spate of incidents in Long Island and NYC, including the murder of a homeowner

New York State Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz has introduced an anti-squatting bill following a series of alarming squatting-related incidents across New York.

The proposal aims to simplify the process for homeowners to remove squatters by redefining squatters as trespassers rather than tenants in the legal statute.

'Squatting has become a bit of a crisis,' Blumencranz told Fox and Friends Friday. 'We need common sense legislation.' 

Under current New York laws, individuals who claim tenancy upon being reported to the police for unauthorized residence cannot be immediately arrested for trespassing.

Instead, homeowners must initiate lengthy eviction proceedings through the court system, a process that typically spans two years in the city and can cost thousands in legal fees. 

New York State Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz has introduced an anti-squatting bill following a series of alarming squatting-related incidents across New York

Nadia Vitels, 52, was found dead in apartment in Manhattan's Kip's Bay on Thursday after she was beaten to death and stuffed in a suitcase by two squatters

Adele Andaloro, 47, inherited her family's property in Flushing, Queens and was hoping to sell it - but was stopped dead in her tracks when squatters moved in last month

Squatters in New York gain legal rights after 30 days, preventing homeowners from altering locks, removing belongings, or discontinuing utilities without risking arrest themselves.

'It's an unfortunate, upside down world,' said Blumencranz, a republican representing District 15, to ABC 7. 'They know how to work the law to stay for a certain number of days to work the system.'

'People can stay in homes for years, years, without having justice brought to them for essentially staying for free and making homeowners pay the bill,' Blumencranz added.

'We're making sure squatters can't take advantage of the law, that's all we're doing,' Blumencranz said.

Blumencranz's proposal comes in the wake of a series of incidents including a mother found murdered and stuffed into a duffel bag at her New York City apartment after pair of squatters beat her to death.

It also comes after a Queens homeowner's arrest for changing locks on individuals she alleges are squatting in her residence, as well as the previous report on a Douglaston family's struggle to occupy their $2 million home due to a refusal by an individual to vacate.

Nadia Vitels, 52, was found dead in the East 31st Street apartment in Manhattan's Kips Bay on March 14 after her family called the building superintendent to do a wellness check.

The medical examiner ruled her death a homicide on Friday after an autopsy ruled she died from multiple facial fractures, a brain bleed, two broken ribs and blunt-force trauma to the head.

Now, NYPD Chief of Detectives say the suspects were squatting in Vitels' apartment. The squatters were arrested Friday.  

'We believe that some squatters took the apartment over and this woman came home … and walked in on the squatters that were there,' Kenny said.

Her family told him they hadn’t heard from her in a few days so he went to up her apartment to check on her and saw signs something was wrong 

Police remove evidence from the home where Vitels' body was found

A photo of Vitels' social media shows her pictured with a Ukrainian flag

The two suspects were spotted driving off in Vitels Lexus SUV around the time they believe she died and even caught on surveillance footage which has not yet been released to the public.

Kenny added that the unique design of the 'upscale apartment' meant they may have been able to hide from Vitels for some time.

'The apartment itself is very unique in that there's no front door to apartment. You take an elevator up and then you key your way in. The elevator is actually your front door,' Kenny told the New York Post.

Michael Medvedev, Vitels' son, made the grisly discovery of his mother's corpse upon return alongside the building's superintendent Jean Pompee, who has lived in there for 22 years, after Vitels had not been seen for 48 hours.

'As they're getting ready to leave, the son opens up the closet door near the front door and discovers the duffel bag with a foot sticking out,' Kenny said.

While the suspects - one of whom has a prior arrest - remain on the lam after swiping Vitels' car as of Thursday night, police believe they're on the right track.

'As of right now, we have probable cause, we have two subjects, we have the Regional Fugitive Task Force actively hunting as we speak,' Kenny said.

Also this month, A New York City woman was arrested following a heated confrontation with a squatter who claimed he had the rights to live in her million-dollar family home.

Andaloro entered the home, flanked by reporters, after an unidentified woman unlocked the door. Inside, she was greeted by two men who were ultimately led away by police

Adele Andaloro, 47, inherited property on a quiet street in Flushing, Queens. She planned to sell it, but noticed someone had replaced the front door and changed the locks.

She was surprised to learn that squatters had moved in last month and refused to leave.

'It's enraging. It really is,' Andaloro told ABC7 New York. 'It's not fair that I, as the homeowner, have to be going through this.'

In New York State, squatters who occupy a property openly and adversely for 10 uninterrupted years can make an adverse possession claim, provided they have paid property taxes over that decade.

In New York City, however, squatters are granted rights after just 30 days, meaning landlords must start an eviction proceeding as soon as a squatter has been discovered.

Just this week, a TikTok influencer is advising his followers on how to 'invade' American homes and invoke squatter's rights, making it difficult for them to be removed from properties.

Leonel Moreno, who goes by @leitooficial_25 online and appears to be a Venezuelan migrant, has told his followers that under US law, 'if a house is not inhabited, we can seize it'.

He is referring to squatter's rights, or adverse possession laws - a common law principle that allows an illegal inhabitant to acquire ownership of a property based on continuous occupation without the legal owner's consent.

Moreno, alleging he has friends who 'have already taken about seven homes', argued the only way for migrants to not live in the streets or be a 'public burden' is to 'seize' and 'invade' abandoned properties.

Leonel Moreno, who goes by @leitooficial_25 online and appears to be a Venezuelan migrant, has advised his followers on how to 'invade' American homes and invoke squatter's rights, making it difficult for them to be removed from properties

Moreno's video comes amid a squatting crisis in the US. Homeowner Adele Andolaro caught three squatters in this Flushing, Queens, New York home earlier this week 

The now-viral video, which has been viewed almost 4million times, has prompted outrage from many social media users. Some have claimed Moreno is 'promoting terrorism' and are now calling on the FBI and Department of Homeland Security to action.

Squatter's rights laws exist in all 50 states and have sparked a crisis across the nation. 'Serial squatters' are overtaking homes and helpless families booted out of their houses by crooks are desperately turning to vigilantes to reclaim their homes.

Moreno, who is believed to live in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio with his partner and their infant daughter, has amassed a following of more than 501,000 on TikTok by creating videos targeted at migrants.

The migrant influencer, in a video posted four days ago, is encouraging his followers to take over unoccupied homes.

Moreno, who is believed to live in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio with his partner and their infant daughter, has amassed a following of more than 501,000 on TikTok by creating videos targeted at migrants.

The migrant influencer, in a video posted four days ago, is encouraging his followers to take over unoccupied homes.