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Homeowner stunned after $1.1m home occupied and set on fire by squatters

Homeowner stunned after discovering his $1.1 million house burned by squatters

Zafar Iqbal, a homeowner in New York, experienced a devastating event when his $1.1 million house was torched by squatters.

The incident occurred after he moved himself and his tenants out for renovations. Upon returning, he discovered his property occupied by squatters.

This nightmare took a tragic turn when the house burned down due to squatters who 'keep coming back' and allegedly 'have more rights' than landlords. 

After the incident, the squatter claimed that they had more rights than the homeowner.

The squatter, Iqbal, 53, claims that squatters 'have more rights than homeowners.'

In New York, squatters can establish residency after 30 days, making eviction a lengthy civil court process.

This frustration is echoed by attorney Daniel Pomerantz, who represents landlords. He highlights court backlogs causing eviction orders to take over a year.

He said court backlogs as a major obstacle, with eviction orders often taking over a year to be processed due to the COVID-19 pandemic's lingering impact on the court system.

The consequence was Iqbal's $1.1 million house being burned by the squatter.

Iqbal told The New York Post: "I received a call from the fire department informing me that the house was burnt down. Someone had entered and set fire to my house.' 

“That’s when I found out it was a squatter living there. The squatters have more rights than the homeowners. I’m the owner of the house. How much more can I do? I need help.”

However, the cause of the fire remains unclear. 

After the incident, according to a criminal complaint, squatter Cheng Chen, 46, blamed lit candles and cigarettes.  Chen was charged with arson and criminal mischief and received a six-month sentence. 

However, Iqbal remains unable to access his property due to safety concerns.

He said: “Every two or three weeks I go there but I don’t approach. I don’t know if these guys have weapons or whatever. My safety is precious too.”

After the incident, the advocacy and support organization Coalition shed light on a potential underlying cause for the squatter situation.

They believe that there is a severe shortage of affordable housing in New York City. They claim the city is facing its worst homeless crisis since the Great Depression, forcing some residents into desperate situations.

Iqbal anxiously waited for his insurance claim to be resolved so he could finally begin his renovation.

However, the ordeal has certainly left him shaken, with lingering safety concerns and a lengthy legal battle casting a shadow over his plans.