A Philadelphia homeowner had to pay $1,200 to get a squatter to vacate his property because the Democratic-run city and even its police force “reward criminals,” he says.
The idea of ”squatters' rights” has become a hot topic for investors as states like Florida look to pass laws to close loopholes that allow them to take over properties.
Chris Harte bought a home in Northwest Philadelphia, renovated it and tried to sell it in late 2023.
Then a squatter moved in and the city council told him there was little they could do to remove the unwanted tenant.
“It’s just unbelievable,” Harte told Fox News Digital. “Basically, the city rewards criminals.”
Chris Harte bought a home in Northwest Philadelphia, renovated it and tried to sell it in late 2023
On Dec. 8, Harte's real estate agent received a tip from a neighbor who said he had heard noises coming from there the night before. The neighbor finally took a look and saw people moving into the house and taking down a “For Sale” sign.
Harte, who was in the dilemma of having to pick up his children from school and his wife from the airport, contacted the local police.
When he heard from police, they said people on the property were trying to change the locks.
Since the squatters also claimed they were renting out the property, they said there was nothing they could do about it.
“I had all my documents with me, the purchase and sale agreement, the homeowner's insurance, the deed to the house, everything.” “They said it didn't matter,” Harte said of a meeting with police, his real estate agent and his locksmith the next day.
Police said the squatters did have rights and Harte would have to file a complaint against the landlord and tenant, which would cost him over $300 and potentially take up to a year.
Philadelphia police only confirmed that Harte had been informed of the matter and confirmed that they had not made any arrests.
“Squatters’ rights…that’s like an oxymoron,” Harte scoffed in an interview with Fox News.
“If I go into a store and steal a bottle of water, they film me and take me to jail. “But someone can break into my house, change the locks and now they have the right.”
On December 8, his real estate agent received a tip from a neighbor who said he had heard noises coming from there the night before. The neighbor finally took a look and saw people moving into the house and taking down a “For Sale” sign
Then a squatter moved in and the city council told him there was little they could do to remove the unwanted tenant. “It’s just unbelievable,” Harte added. “Basically, the city rewards criminals.”
Bob Cervone, a local real estate agent who represents Harte, said such situations are remarkably common in Philadelphia.
“The police told us they receive three to four similar calls a day.” I had certainly heard about this from other agents and landlords. But it was my first experience with it.”
The squatters allegedly contacted Cervone and requested a meeting several days after Harte confronted police.
They told Harte they had found another place to go, but they would only go if Harte gave them $2,000.
Harte said he couldn't give them $2,000 but gave in to a compromise of $1,200.
Not only had they occupied, but the people living there were devastating the place.
“The house was super dirty, trash everywhere,” he said. “Fortunately there was no damage.”
Bob Cervone, a local real estate agent who represents Harte, said such situations are remarkably common in Philadelphia
Police said the squatters did have rights and Harte would have to file a complaint against the landlord and tenant, which would cost him over $300 and potentially take up to a year
After hiring a cleaner and changing the locks, he sold the house last week.
“After that I had no peace,” he said. “I had to drive there like every other day just to make sure no one was breaking in.”
He voiced strong criticism of politicians who run major cities and enable squatters, including Philadelphia's Democratic Mayor Cherelle L. Parker.
“It’s absolutely absurd,” Harte said of the political climate in Philadelphia. “They're not helping investors like me who want to improve the city, who want to buy these houses and renovate them and, you know, make the city a safer and nicer neighborhood.”
David Oh, the Republican mayoral candidate opposing Parker in 2023, accused her of “eroding” protections for landlords when she served on the City Council with him, Fox reported.
“We need other politicians,” said Harte. “I think their policies are terrible and they're ruining a lot of cities across America.” And Philadelphia is one of them.'
He said there was a “correlation” between Democratic policies and situations like his, even when Parker ran as a centrist on a law-and-order ticket.
Parker, 51, the city's first Black and female mayor, signed an executive order last week declaring a public safety emergency.
Cherelle Parker, the newly sworn in 100th mayor of Philadelphia, delivers her inaugural address during Tuesday's ceremony
Parker swears in new Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel
“I want the world to know that I am fully committed to ending this sense of lawlessness and bringing order and a sense of lawfulness back to our city,” she said in a speech.
She promised during the campaign to hire 300 more police officers, including municipal officers, and to restore “constitutional” stop-and-frisk traffic. She also put forward the idea of running the school year-round to reduce juvenile crime.
Her plans include increasing the number of police officers on the streets with an emphasis on community policing – a policy she has already championed on the City Council.
Philadelphia has seen rampant crime in recent years, with violent crimes such as robberies and aggravated assault involving firearms exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
Parker takes over a city where violent crime is declining — homicides are down more than 20 percent from last year, and nonfatal shootings are down 28 percent.
But Philadelphia had a grim reputation in 2020 and 2021 as one of America's most dangerous cities, with more than 500 murders per year – significantly more than New York, five times its size.
And thefts on Philadelphia are increasing rapidly, with the number of reported vehicle thefts up 72 percent. Retail thefts are also increasing rapidly, increasing by 28 percent in the last year.