Squatter Demands $25k to Vacate Property!

A disturbing trend is sweeping across the country as homeowners grapple with the rising issue of squatters—individuals occupying properties without permission. The latest incident involves a New York City couple who find themselves entangled in a legal battle with a woman demanding a hefty $25,000 payout to vacate their home.

Squatting has become an increasingly prevalent problem, with many property owners expressing frustration over the difficulty of removing unwanted occupants. While some squatters are homeless individuals taking advantage of temporarily vacant properties, others are tenants who have overstayed their welcome, refusing to pay rent while clinging to the legal loopholes that make eviction a challenging process.

In the upscale Upper West Side of New York City, homeowners Nancy Hament and Richard Scarola are facing a nightmare scenario. Their once temporary guest, Celeste Champoux, has now entrenched herself in their property, refusing to leave unless she is paid $25,000. The couple had initially allowed Champoux to stay at the property at the request of a mutual friend, film producer John Corso, who claimed she needed a short-term place to stay before moving to Hawaii.

However, over a year has passed, and Champoux remains in the home, according to a lawsuit filed by Hament and Scarola this week. The suit alleges that Champoux has not only refused to vacate but has also made demands for a substantial payout to do so.

This isn’t the first time Champoux has been involved in eviction disputes. She has a history of legal battles over her refusal to leave properties, often making claims of mistreatment by landlords. In this case, Champoux’s attorney has accused Hament and Scarola of “elder abuse,” alleging that they cut off essential services like electricity and water in an attempt to force her out.

“You can’t just cut off essential services to intimate her to move,” Champoux’s lawyer, Stephen C. Dachtera, told the New York Post. The lawsuit also targets Corso, accusing him of fraud for allegedly misleading the couple about Champoux’s intentions and her supposed move to Hawaii.

“Champoux acquired her occupancy of the Premises through fraud by Corso to plaintiff’s great and continuing damage,” the lawsuit reads, indicating the couple’s belief that they were deceived from the outset.

Champoux’s history with eviction is marred by controversy. In 2014, she faced eviction for not paying rent, arguing that the lack of repairs at the property justified her refusal to pay. Corso, who was also involved in this case, promised to cover her rent once he secured funding for a new film. Despite these assurances, Champoux paid less than $3,000 of the $60,000 owed, leading to her eviction in 2018 after a 46-year occupancy.

Her troubles didn’t end there. Champoux’s next residence, a Midtown property belonging to the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen’s Club, also encountered issues. Champoux claimed she was approved to live there rent-free in exchange for marketing services. However, the club’s lawyer later revealed that this arrangement was based on a fraudulent claim of Champoux’s marketing expertise.

“Our director fell for her story, that she was a marketing expert, according to her friend, and this other gentleman,” Margaret Ann Harley, the club’s board secretary, stated in court. “And she was not a marketing expert at all. She … didn’t perform any duties and then we asked her to leave, and she wouldn’t leave.”

Champoux eventually left the club’s property three years later, citing a COVID hardship declaration. Shortly after, she moved into Hament and Scarola’s property, setting the stage for the current legal battle.

Her lawyer, Dachtera, emphasizes that Champoux is an elderly woman with hearing difficulties, and accuses the couple of elder abuse for their actions.

“The landlord is not allowed to subject her to and engage in elder abuse,” Dachtera reiterated to the Post.

The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting the challenges property owners face when dealing with squatters. Alan Chang, a nationwide title and escrow expert, advises homeowners to protect themselves by having professionally drafted agreements for any type of short- or long-term stay.

“It is always sad to see people take advantage of people on a regular basis,” Chang told Newsweek. “The absurd concept that people that break the law have additional rights does not make sense to me. More and more of our society share ideas and strategies to game the system and create unjust enrichment.”

Chang’s advice is clear: “It is not worth the slight savings by trying to draft a lease based on a document you found online, hire a professional.”

As squatting incidents continue to rise, homeowners are urged to be vigilant and seek legal protection to avoid becoming the next victims of this growing crisis.