Saratoga County residents will have a chance in May to provide comments on a proposed law that aims at making it easier for property owners to remove squatters from their properties.
The county law is similar to one the town of Clifton Park is looking to enact, according to Phil Barrett, who is both the Clifton Park supervisor and chairman of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors.
“It’s just one element of the lawlessness that’s been allowed to fester in many areas and it’s important that we take a proactive and strong stand against this kind of behavior because it is becoming a coordinated effort and business venture,” Barrett said. “There’s organizations working to identify properties that are vacant for a period of time and then once the property is identified individuals are then recruited to occupy the home.”
Barrett said, under the proposed county law, the property owner would provide police with a signed affidavit indicating they didn’t provide consent for the person to be in their home and then the person would be arrested for trespassing and any other applicable charges.
Barrett said instances of squatters taking over properties are happening around the country, including in Saratoga County. The board chairman pointed to one instance in New York City when a property owner was arrested for changing the locks on a home after finding someone had moved into the residence without their permission, according to various media reports. The charges against the property owner were eventually dropped.
Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo said the department responded to just one incident involving a squatter last year on Route 29 in Galway. He said there was no arrest made, but that the person was “asked to leave and they did.”
Zurlo said it was a vacant house. He also indicated he has no concerns regarding the proposed law.
During the April 15 Clifton Park Town Board meeting, only one person spoke at a public hearing regarding the law proposed in the town. Darlene McGraw, from nearby Halfmoon, said the Town Board was being responsible by coming up with such a law.
“You work so hard at getting that house,” she said. “It’s not like going on a Monopoly board and picking out a home.”
She also said if people see someone entering a home that they shouldn’t be then they should say something.
The county hearing is set for 4:30 p.m. on May 14 at the County Office Building in Ballston Spa.