Decoding New York's Squatters' Rights: What Property Owners Need to Know

The concept of squatter’s rights, also known as adverse possession, is not something that is widely understood or discussed. Yet it is a legal term that holds a lot of significance, especially for property owners. It refers to the right of an individual to acquire legal ownership of a property by occupying it for an extended period, without the owner’s permission. Although it might seem outdated and unfair, there are legal principles behind it that serve a specific purpose. In this blog post, we will take an in-depth look at squatters rights new York, what it entails, and how it affects property owners.

Squatter’s rights, or adverse possession, is a legal principle that has been in existence for centuries. Its primary purpose is to reward the productive use of land and discourage property owners from neglecting their properties. The law recognizes that vacant and unused properties can become a liability, attracting criminal activities and causing damage to the surrounding community. By allowing someone to occupy the property and put it to good use, the law ensures that it remains productive and valuable.