Two New York squatters are claiming ownership rights to an abandoned home they have taken over after convincing a judge to grant them access to the $900,000 property on Long Island, where they live with their young child and pit bull.
According to the New York Post, Denton Gayle, 29, and Margaret Grover, 19, have caused quite a stir in their North Hempstead neighborhood. They even have a Porsche parked in the driveway of the house they’re squatting in.
Porsche-driving LI squatters ask to be made ‘heirs’ to zombie home https://t.co/kR1XtmoRtP pic.twitter.com/fu7hJasfdu
— New York Post (@nypost) April 6, 2024
The couple was previously evicted from the house in October after it was discovered they were living in “unlivable” conditions without basic amenities like working toilets, heat or electricity.
Gayle and Grover managed to move back in after showing the court a forged lease agreement with the former owner, Edward Iancono — who had been dead for years.
The U.S. National Bank Association tried foreclosing on the house, pointing out the forgery on the lease. But the squatters had already been allowed back into the house, creating another set of hurdles to removing the invaders.
Nassau County Judge Christopher Coschignano, who first granted access to the home to the squatter family, issued an eviction notice. But, as the wave of stories about this issue has shown, it’s not so easy to evict a squatter — and it can sometimes be impossible.
Gayle and Grover’s lawyer, William Igbokwe, insists his clients are trying to do the right thing and merely want their side of the story heard in court.
The rash of squatting stories seemingly in the headlines on a daily basis have worried Americans across the country who have worked their entire lives to live in their homes, and the idea that this kind of thing is possible in the United States is chilling to consider.
Despite the obviously immoral and dangerous circumstances, there has been no serious legislation put forth to respond to these violation of homeownership in Congress.
