New Orleans is experiencing a surge in squatting cases, according to Louisiana Democrat Representative Alonzo Knox.
Nationally, the topic of squatters has become more prevalent since the COVID-19 pandemic saw tenants in some areas gain more rights, subsequently leading to a rise in those illegally occupying properties.
The American Apartment Owners Association defines squatters as individuals who inhabit a piece or land or building without a legal right to live there. In many states, squatters gain tenant rights after just 30 days of staying in a property to which they had no legal right.
"There is a noticeable increase of complaints about squatters in many New Orleans neighborhoods in my District 93, like Treme, for example," Knox told local station WDSU.
The Orleans Parish First City Court has dealt with more than 4,200 eviction cases this year, and 4,168 ended with evictions, although many take months to get the unwanted tenant out of the home.
Louisiana took action against squatters by changing the law so that squatting is included under the burglary statute and punishable by jail time.
"We remain committed to addressing homelessness with compassion and respect while also protecting the rights of property owners and the safety and quality of life for residents," Knox said.
The law, supported by Republicans and Democrats, passed unanimously and took effect in August.
"If someone is illegally in a property and has no right to be there, depriving the owner, the police can go in there and arrest them for burglary just the same as if they caught then breaking into the house to steal the television," Louisiana Republican Representative Tony Bacala said.
"We're taking a commonsense approach to this. We're saying if you have no right to be there and you are depriving the owner of the full right of the property, you go to jail."
In New Orleans, homeowner Randy Gordon saw his property suffer significant damage when a squatter stayed there illegally for seven months.
"We bought this building in 2011 and converted it to condos," Gordon told WDSU. "February of this year, we had a homeless squatter get in — and this is the outcome of it."
Now, the property has holes in the walls broken wallboards.
"It's going to cost me some money to clean this place up," Gordon said.
After the squatter threatened him, Gordon said he called police but was told there was nothing they could do about it, and he'd need to go through the New Orleans eviction court.
"I said, 'To get out a squatter who doesn't have a lease?'" Gordon said. "They say yes. I was told we had to go through the evictions court to get him out, which we did, and that process took seven months."
New Orleans, as a major Southern city, tends to be a prime target for squatters, said Ryan McCall, a principal attorney with McCall Sweeney & Silva and eviction expert.
"One reason being is they offer a warmer climate year-round compared to northern cities like Chicago, New York City or Detroit," McCall told Newsweek. "As a result, property owners need to be extra diligent when it comes to surveilling their property when they are not around for extended periods of time."
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