NYC Homeowners Tell CBS They Are Now in Debt Because They Have to Pay Squatters’ Utility Bills

Reporter Why can t ░░░░░░░░ just change the locks ░░░░░░░░ 1 Oh I will ░░░░░░░░ arrested instantly HOMEOWNER 2 ░░░░░░░░ turned off the hot ░░░░░░░░ and then reported that ░░░░░░░░ had no hot water ░░░░░░░░ s a 250 fine ░░░░░░░░ day up to 15 ░░░░░░░░ punishable by five years ░░░░░░░░ jail Reporter So here ░░░░░░░░ are you have to ░░░░░░░░ the upkeep of the ░░░░░░░░ HOMEOWNER 3 Right Reporter ░░░░░░░░ not getting any rent ░░░░░░░░ 3 I m not ░░░░░░░░ any rent and I ░░░░░░░░ paying gas and electric ░░░░░░░░ month Reporter voice over ░░░░░░░░ stories repeated over and ░░░░░░░░ and over again by ░░░░░░░░ and often unwitting property ░░░░░░░░ worry lines marking their ░░░░░░░░ who came to city ░░░░░░░░ Vicky Paladino s office ░░░░░░░░ seeking help Hong Chan ░░░░░░░░ been thousands trying unsuccessfully ░░░░░░░░ get the squatters out ░░░░░░░░ this home in Maspeth ░░░░░░░░ Socran using his pension ░░░░░░░░ for expenses on this ░░░░░░░░ Point home he hoped ░░░░░░░░ provide retirement income and ░░░░░░░░ Mascara who s used ░░░░░░░░ her savings paying for ░░░░░░░░ years of upkeep on ░░░░░░░░ Bayside home she inherited ░░░░░░░░ her mother HOMEOWNER 2 ░░░░░░░░ m in debt My ░░░░░░░░ cards are pretty much ░░░░░░░░ out.”