A New York woman was arrested following a violent confrontation with a squatter who claimed he had the right to live in her family’s $1 million home.
Adele Andaloro, 47, inherited a property on a quiet street in Flushing, Queens. She had 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 infuriating. It really is,” Andaloro told ABC7 New York. “It’s not fair that I, as an owner, have to go through this.”
In New York State, squatters who openly and adversely occupy a property for 10 continuous years can file a claim for adverse possession, provided they have paid property taxes during that decade.
In New York, however, squatters are granted rights after just 30 days, meaning that landlords must begin eviction proceedings as soon as a squatter has been discovered.
Adele Andaloro, 47, inherited her family’s property in Flushing, Queens and hoped to sell it — but was stopped in her tracks when squatters moved in last month.
The strangers had changed the locks and replaced the front door. In New York, “squatter rights” are granted after only 30 days of occupation
Andaloro entered the house, flanked by reporters, after an unidentified woman unlocked the door. Inside, she was greeted by two men who were eventually taken away by police.
“By the time anyone investigates, it will be well over 30 days and this man will have stolen my house,” Andaloro said.
As she and her daughter spoke with reporter Dan Krauth outside, a woman walked by and unlocked the front door. She left when she saw the cameras, meaning Andaloro was free to enter with a deed in hand.
“This proves everything I said, these are my furniture, these are my curtains,” she said, pointing.
Venturing further inside, she found two men, one sleeping in a bedroom. One of the men claimed to have moved in two days earlier.
Then they called the police.
“They called the police and I called the locksmith,” said an exasperated Andaloro. “We did not enter illegally, the door was open.”
The police arrived and began questioning the men. When asked to produce documentation proving they had been there for more than 30 days, the men were unable to provide proof.
The man who claimed to have moved in two days earlier was taken into custody while police escorted the other man as he dragged a suitcase down the street.
Minutes after police left, another man identified as Brian Rodriguez (pictured) forced his way inside, accompanied by one of the squatters who had already been evicted from the property.
Rodriguez offered to leave if Andaloro would reimburse him for the work allegedly done to the house
Andaloro was arrested for changing the locks, which is illegal under New York City’s illegal eviction law.
Before leaving, the police warned her against changing the locks. It is illegal to turn off utilities, change locks and remove personal belongings from someone claiming to be a tenant under city law.
Shortly after, the locksmith arrived and fixed the front door.
About 10 minutes later, Andaloro got another surprise when another man made his way inside, accompanied by the squatter already removed from the premises by police.
“This guy just broke into my house,” Andaloro exclaimed.
‘Do you see that? This guy literally broke down my door, drilled me and my daughter.
The new man, identified as Brian Rodriguez, turned to the camera crew. ‘Who are these people?’ he asked, insisting that it was his house.
This time, it was Andaloro who called the police.
But the police told her she had to go to court because the dispute was considered a matter between landlord and tenant and therefore did not fall within their jurisdiction.
The 47-year-old man was arrested for changing the locks, a violation of New York City’s illegal eviction law.
Andaloro vowed to sue Rodriguez, saying she had no other choice
On Long Island, another man was accused of squatting in a $2 million mansion and preventing the new owners from moving in.
Susana and Joseph Landa bought the house and planned to care for their son, who has Down syndrome. The squatter, Brett Flores, claimed to have worked as a “caretaker” for the previous owner and has since taken up residence.
Rodriguez admitted he didn’t own the house, but told the news anchor, “You should know this damn law works.”
He claimed to have signed a lease in October but was unable to provide proof. Police said he had no documentation other than invoices for work he claimed to have done on the house.
Rodriguez offered to leave if Andaloro recouped those expenses. “Pay me the money and I will leave or send myself to court, it’s that simple,” he said.
Andaloro promised to begin eviction proceedings in Landlord-Tenant Court, saying she had no other choice. Eviction cases can take more than a year to reach a resolution.
In another high-profile housing dispute, a New York City couple claimed they were unable to move into a $2 million property on Long Island after a squatter took up residence.
Susana and Joseph Landa, both 68, purchased the home in October 2023 where they planned to spend their retirement caring for their son, Alex, who has Down syndrome.
However, they were stopped in their tracks by Brett Flores, 32, who said he had been living with the previous landlord as a “caretaker” and had since moved in rent-free.
The Landas had to pay utility bills worth thousands of dollars. They also said they found online advertisements offering rooms in the house for $50 a night.
Like Andaloro, they were forced to sue Flores. However, the 32-year-old filed for bankruptcy in January, preventing any legal proceedings from moving forward.
According to the couple’s lawyer, Flores said he would not leave until he received more than $100,000.
