'Absolutely absurd': Internet fumes as NY couple is sued by squatters who took over their $530K investment home

Denis Kurlyand and Juliya Fulman claim that they are being sued by alleged squatters, Lance Hunt Jr and Rondie L Francis, who took over their Queens home
PUBLISHED APR 1, 2024
Juliya Fulman is being sued by alleged squatters (DailyMail)
Juliya Fulman is being sued by alleged squatters (DailyMail)

QUEENS, NEW YORK: Amid the escalating squatters-related trouble, a New York couple apparently got hit with a lawsuit for kicking out illegal occupants from their home. 

This comes as a video emerged on X (formerly Twitter), showing a Venezuelan migrant encouraging his followers to squat in empty houses in the US. 

New York couple sued by squatters living illegally in their home

According to the Daily Mail, Denis Kurlyand and Juliya Fulman are facing a frustrating situation due to New York City's housing laws, which have led people to unlawfully occupy homes, forcing homeowners to go through legal battles to remove them.

On March 5, a real-estate broker, Ejona Bardhi, hired by the couple visited their Jamaica, Queens property, which they purchased for $530,000 a few years ago, to check it before letting tenants move in. To her surprise, she found that the locks had been changed. 

Inside the house, they apparently discovered Lance Hunt Jr and Rondie L Francis, who had set up living arrangements, including mattresses, a TV, and even a massage table. The men claimed they had leased the property legally months earlier, leading Bardhi to call the police. 

While the encroachers left without incident as they were unable to provide proof of their occupancy to the authorities, the homeowners were notified that they would be arrested if they changed the locks themselves, as per the Daily Mail

Currently, Kurlyand and Fulman are caught in a legal battle with them, as the alleged squatters have hired a lawyer to sue the homeowners. 

Fulman, who has already spent over $4,000 on legal fees fighting the lawsuit, expressed her frustration to the New York Post, saying, "It’s absolutely absurd. These people literally broke into my house. It’s not fair to us as homeowners that we are not protected by the city."

In New York City's five boroughs, squatters only need to occupy a property for 30 days to gain legal protections, making it challenging for the owner to evict them.

Kurlyand called the squatters "opportunists" in a conversation with the New York Post, and added, "You can’t really even blame them in a way because it’s handed to them on a silver platter. Something needs to be done because the issue is getting worse."

He further stated, "People are taking advantage of these laws, manipulating the laws, and our hands are tied. What did we do? Nothing. We put up a property for rent, and that’s it, now we’re dealing with a nightmare."



 

Internet reacts to NYC couple being sued by squatters

One wrote, "Absolutely absurd that any law would protect a squatter. If this area has these laws in place, vote better!!!!" 

Another said, "🚨 This is an issue that really needs to make its way to the Supreme Court. The very concept of squatting seems to be squarely against constitutional property rights."

A person remarked, "'Squatters rights' is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard of… squatting is theft, these people should have ZERO rights. The second the lawful homeowner says they want them out, that’s it.. get out!"

Someone else stated, "They can sue you for anything, even being unfairly removed while they break the law."



 



 



 



 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

MORE STORIES

The suspected shooter, Desmond Holly, a student at Evergreen High School, injured two students before turning the gun on himself
Sep 12, 2025
Iryna Zarutska’s boyfriend also questioned the qualifications of Judge Teresa Stokes, who released the suspect on cashless bail earlier this year
Sep 12, 2025
As other passengers rushed to aid Iryna Zarutska, Decarlos Brown Jr said, 'I got that White girl' while waiting for the train to stop and exit
Sep 10, 2025
According to a neighbor, Iryna Zarutska’s father was unable to attend her funeral on August 27 due to the war in Ukraine
Sep 9, 2025
Andrew Cabot, CEO of Privateer Rum, said through his spokesperson that his split from Kristin Cabot was 'private and amicable' before the concert
Sep 9, 2025
Decarlos Brown Jr, 35, attacked 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, pulling a blade and slashing her as she sat in front of him scrolling on her phone
Sep 8, 2025
Mayor Vi Lyles urged restraint after footage surfaced showing Decarlos Brown fatally stabbing 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte’s Blue Line
Sep 8, 2025
Jurupa Valley High School’s Alyssa McPherson and Hadeel Hazameh skipped a match in protest, saying safety and fairness had been compromised
Sep 7, 2025
Some critics of ‘Gender Jamboree’ claim the lessons go beyond age-appropriate boundaries and risk politicizing early childhood education
Sep 4, 2025
Rumors sparked outrage after claims spread that Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appeared as a Shein model
Sep 4, 2025