ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / ECONOMY & WORK

Two NYC Squatters Flee After Tense Standoff With Homeowner, a Third Squatter Refuses to Budge

As per New York City real estate law, people can claim squatters' rights if they have lived in the home for at least 30 days.
PUBLISHED MAR 29, 2024
Cover Image Source: ABC7 | Eyewitness News ABC7NY | YouTube
Cover Image Source: ABC7 | Eyewitness News ABC7NY | YouTube

Two out of three squatters who had taken over a woman's home in Queens, New York City have now fled after they had to face vigilantes as well as a tense stand-off with the property’s owner. The squatters decided to leave the home after two men appeared on the doorsteps, demanding answers. As per Daily Mail, a woman and a man left the home a day after they were paid that visit. They were seen getting into a car while shielding their faces from cameras. However, the third squatter refuses to leave. He claims that he has been staying in the house legally and will only leave when he gets his deposit back.



 

"I have no idea what is going on here with this nonsense. I’m trying to get my money back and just get out of here. I have nothing to do with this," the man, identified as Kevin Balletsy, told Daily Mail. "I have receipts saying I paid the landlord and the real estate other than that I am no part of it," he continued in a comment to the outlet. "I wash my hands of this, and I’m gone," he added. 

Last month, the homeowner had a tense stand-off with the squatter after she paid them a visit with a news crew. Adele  Andaloro, 47, whose parents had left her the house after they died, was able to enter the home with the crew. "This is proving everything I said, this is my furniture, these are my curtains," Andaloro said on camera to ABC 7 as she entered the home.

"Who are you, sir? Get out of my house," she was seen telling a sleeping man in one of the rooms in the house. The squatters later called the police on the homeowner who attempted to call a locksmith and change the locks. As per New York City real estate law, people can claim squatters' rights if they have lived in the home for at least 30 days. Many people are exploiting these property rights and refusing to leave their homes.

ABC7 | YouTube
ABC7 | YouTube

Many homeowners believe that the laws make no sense in today's time. "It’s enraging," Andaloro told ABC 7 of the ordeal. "It’s not fair that I, as the homeowner, have to be going through this." Police later came and escorted the squatters off the property but told Andalaro that she could be facing legal penalties for changing locks, as one cannot turn off any utilities or change locks of a house where somebody says they are living as a tenant.

Image Source: Realtor.com
Tenants cannot change the locks of a house they are living in (representative image) | Realtor.com

People living in the area were also highly critical of the whole issue, with one local telling the Daily Mail that he has been on edge since the time these squatters arrived. "We all know what they are up to, so we’re all kind of pissed about it," Kosta told the outlet. Neighbors also reported that the squatters were carrying out construction work at the home. "I heard a drill and saw through my window that they were drilling holes into the wall and putting up boards," Kosta told Dail Mail.

Squatting cases have been on the rise lately with people taking matters into their hands to evict illegal hoggers from their homes. Fed up with this con, a Seattle landlord decided to take action and confront a squatter who allegedly owes him over $80,000 in rent and refuses to leave his $2 million home. "I have suffered a loss of $80,000. This should stop. This is a fight against injustice," he said. 

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
Jennings is loved by fans of the show ever since he became one of its most dominant contestants.
9 hours ago
The founder didn't budge even an inch from the valuation that she found to be accurate.
10 hours ago
The player later confessed that he went blank and gave the wrong answer.
13 hours ago
She had no idea who the painter was and what it might be worth, so her shock was understandable.
14 hours ago
She knew the answer long before the timer started ticking down and won a massive chunk of money.
15 hours ago
The contestant made several errors while playing one of the show's most time-sensitive games.
1 day ago
Ari Siegel started 'History by Mail' in 2019 after witnessing a powerful historic document in the Library of Congress.
1 day ago
Her name isn't usually mentioned on the show for obvious reasons, so this was a rarity.
1 day ago
The car was an infamous piece of hip-hop history and could fetch big money at auctions.
1 day ago
The iconic action movie had a dialogue that had a reference to the show popular back then as well.
1 day ago
Cuban kept resisting a joint deal, but then all other sharks decided to give him a higher share.
1 day ago
The insider account contradicts a statement that Bialik had released regarding her exit.
1 day ago
Seacrest took the opportunity to congratulate the second-time 'honeymooners' with a risqué joke. 
2 days ago
The duo has expanded their business with more product lines since they gained exposure.
2 days ago
This information could help a lot of contestants do well on "The Price is Right" but there's a risk.
2 days ago
The contestant was doing it in her heels and Seacrest was at first surprised.
2 days ago
Jennings couldn't keep his thoughts in after listening to the contestant's story.
3 days ago
The woman wasn't the only one who had made such an alarming discovery.
3 days ago
The competitor was able to make a comeback and walk out as the champion, which is impressive.
3 days ago
The show sees several valuable items whenever it films, and their safety is absolutely imperative.
3 days ago