A couple who are accused of squatting in a Queens duplex without permission are now taking legal action against the rightful owners of the $930,000 home, despite being asked to leave.
In the borough, the ongoing squatter saga has reached a new level of absurdity. Over the past few weeks, numerous homes have been taken over by unwelcome invaders who argue that they have rights to the properties under New York City’s lenient laws.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous,” exclaimed Juliya Fulman, the owner of the most recent targeted home. She has already accumulated over $4,000 in legal fees while battling the lawsuit, as she shared with The Post on Sunday.
According to the Jamaica property owner, “These individuals actually invaded my home. It’s unjust that as homeowners, we are not provided with adequate protection by the city.”
In the five boroughs, squatters only have to occupy a property for 30 days in order to gain a variety of legal protections that make it challenging for the owner to evict them.
Juliya’s husband, Denis Kurlyand, expressed his perspective on the squatters, stating, “You can’t really even blame them in a way because it’s handed to them on a silver platter.” He referred to the squatters as “opportunists” during a phone call with The Post.
He expressed concern over the worsening issue and emphasized the need for action. According to him, people are exploiting and manipulating the laws, leaving authorities unable to intervene.
“We didn’t take any action. We simply listed our property for rent, and now we find ourselves in a nightmarish situation.”
The locks on the Lakeside Avenue investment property were changed on March 5, leaving the couple shocked and frustrated. They had invested $530,000 in renovating the property and had already secured tenants for both rental units with the help of their real estate broker, Ejona Bardhi.
As Bardhi made her way to her car to contact the police, a group of men suddenly emerged from the residence and surrounded her vehicle, which was parked in front of the house, she recounted.
“They were attempting to intimidate me,” she stated.
When the police arrived at the scene, Lance Hunt, Sr. and Rondie L. Francis, the two alleged squatters, made a claim that they had been residing there since January. However, they were unable to provide any evidence to support their claim.
The men departed from the residence without any trouble, and Bardhi and the homeowners expressed their desire to replace the locks. However, the authorities warned them that they would face arrest if they proceeded with the action.
Just two weeks later, another Queens homeowner, Adele Andaloro, 47, followed through on her words and was arrested for taking action against the squatters in her $1 million house in Flushing. Her attempt to rid the property of squatters involved changing the locks.
Hunt Sr. and Francis came back to the property the next day, showing a lease agreement that they claimed was signed by Bardhi. However, Juliya and Kurlyand were ready for this, as they provided officers with ownership documents and timestamped videos proving that the house had been vacant, according to the homeowners’ account to The Post.
After being escorted from the property by the police, the men were forced to leave, and the owners took immediate action by changing the locks. However, upon entering their own home, the couple was greeted with a disheartening sight. The trespassers had left behind a trail of destruction, completely disregarding the newly renovated space. The once pristine wood floors now bore unsightly scuff marks, walls were marred with scratches, and an unmistakable odor of marijuana permeated the entire residence.
Ten days later, Bardhi received court documents informing her that the men were suing her, along with the couple and the real-estate company, Top Nest Properties. This unexpected turn of events marked the beginning of a new chapter in their ordeal, rather than its end.
During an emergency lockout hearing in Queens Civil Court on March 22, the squatters were given an opportunity to present their case. The couple’s lawyer, Rizpah Morrow, requested a trial and argued that the men had committed a fraud. Judge Vijay Kitson presided over the hearing.
Kurlyand accused Hunt Sr. and Francis of presenting “forged documents” in court, which were hastily created by combining public records and using photoshop.
“They gathered whatever they could find and assembled it hastily. The lease they presented is absurd, as it was signed on January 1 and set to begin on the same day,” he exclaimed.
Juliya exclaimed, “I can’t believe they had the nerve to appear in court.”
According to the squatters’ lawyer, Dennis Harris, his clients provided him with sufficient evidence to support their claim of living in the property. This evidence included a rental application, a lease agreement, and text messages.
The couple requested Judge Kitson if they could proceed with allowing their tenants to move in before the next court date on April 5. However, the judge advised against it, stating that doing so could further complicate the matter before it is adjourned.
According to Kurlyand, the court system does not favor landlords. He questions the fairness of a system that allows someone who illegally breaks into a house to potentially stay there for years without consequence. Kurlyand raises concerns about the incentive this creates for individuals to avoid paying rent or mortgages by simply breaking into someone else’s property and enjoying a life of luxury.
Kurlyand expressed that despite making some headway in addressing the issue, he still finds it nerve-wracking to not have the final say in the decision-making process.
“It’s always uncertain which way the courtroom will lean. The feeling is quite unsettling because even if we present solid evidence, there’s no guarantee that the judge will rule in our favor. We have no choice but to continue the legal battle, regardless of the outcome,” he apprehensively expressed.
“I can’t believe it. I’m actually in court right now, being sued by the person who broke into my house. How did we end up here? This just doesn’t make sense. There should have been safety measures in place,” he exclaimed.
