Proposal by Wong Man Yee to Combat Illegal Occupancy Owners of Vacant Properties Can Report to Police Station

New York City Council member Huang Minyi and Republican Councilman Joe Borelli of Staten Island have jointly proposed bipartisan legislation requiring the New York City Police Department to establish a vacant housing plan. Under this plan, if a property remains vacant for 21 days or more, homeowners or tenants are allowed to register a notice of residential vacancy with the NYPD to combat illegal occupation.

The proposal, known as Bill No. 997, mandates the NYPD to develop a housing vacancy plan that permits homeowners or tenants to submit a registration form to the police department when their residence has been vacant for 21 days or longer. The registration must include the start date of vacancy, estimated end date, as well as contact information for the notifier and property owner.

Councilwoman Huang Minyi emphasized that illegal occupation damages the fundamental property rights of homeowners. This new registration system aims to provide legal protection to property owners, preventing any claims of “legitimate occupation” by occupiers and sparing owners from lengthy legal battles, thereby ensuring peace of mind when vacating their properties. This legislation is not only about property rights but also about justice and fairness for homeowners.

Huang Minyi expressed gratitude to her co-sponsor, New York City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli, stating, “He understands that regardless of party affiliation, safeguarding and preserving property rights are paramount.”

Between March and April, multiple incidents of property occupation occurred in New York City. As per current laws, individuals who reside in a property for 30 days gain rights to stay, known as “squatter’s rights,” leading to illegal occupancies. In one instance in Flushing, Queens, a homeowner who attempted to remove squatters and change locks found themselves reported by the squatters and subsequently arrested by the police. In Manhattan, a homeowner tragically fell victim to squatters.

Following widespread media coverage, New York State made revisions to laws related to “squatter’s rights.” Governor Ho Chu signed the new state budget on April 22, accompanied by legal amendments excluding “squatters” from the definition of “tenants.” This change allows property owners to call authorities for eviction without court proceedings.

The 2025 State Budget of New York included amendments to property laws expressly defining that “tenants do not encompass unauthorized squatters.” This new law took immediate effect, allowing homeowners to directly involve the police in evicting unauthorized occupiers without the need for a court-issued eviction order.