CHICAGO (WLS) — Uncertainty surrounds the recent squatter law in Illinois, which was enacted last week.
The legislation empowers law enforcement to evict squatters, categorizing them as trespassers instead of treating them like tenants.
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However, a Chicago property owner reports that despite the new law, alleged squatters continue to occupy her property.
According to Chicago police, they are still navigating the complexities of the new law to ensure all legal rights are respected.
One homeowner was hopeful that the law would facilitate the removal of squatters from her residence, but she discovered on Friday that the process is more complicated than anticipated.
“I feel powerless now. I relied completely on the new law,” expressed Mary Welch.
Welch has owned a condo unit in a Chatham building for more than a decade.
She’s been renovating the unit, hoping to rent or sell it.
But, last month, she says she discovered a stranger living there.
“I knock. Then, all of a sudden, the door opened. Then, all of a sudden, a woman with a gun pointing at me appeared and began screaming that she was going to begin shooting if I didn’t leave because I had no authority to be on the premises,” Welch said.
She said the person inside claimed that her mother signed a lease, and they had a right to be there.
“I said, ‘you couldn’t possibly have a lease because I’m the owner,’” Welch said.
Welch said CPD came out, but she didn’t have her deed on her. So, she left, went to get it and called police again.
She said, ultimately, police informed her there was nothing they could do. That’s when she learned about the new squatter law going into effect Jan. 1.
“So, I Googled. I Googled, and I encountered your TV interview segment,” Welch said.
ABC7 Chicago has been covering Illinois’ squatting problem for years.
On Friday, police, state Rep. La Shawn ford and Alderman Michelle Harris arrived at the property to try to help.
After hours of investigating and speaking with a person inside, police said they were not able to get the people and their dogs out of the property because they had been living there before the new law went into effect.
Ford says he’ll be addressing this in Springfield.
“Talking to Chicago PD and the alderman, we know there’s work that needs to be done to improve this law,” he said. “Today is an example of us needing to do more with law enforcement to educate them on what the intent of the law is.”
It’s a painful reality for Welch, who says she just wants her property back.
“I am angry beyond words. Because despite the new law, they are not going to remove my squatters. I will have to go through another process that will take God knows how much time,” Welch said.
The Chicago Police Department said it does not carry out evictions. CPD said it does enforce criminal trespass to property when officers can verify and establish whether an individual is illegally trespassing.
But Welch says she showed officers her deed Friday, and still couldn’t get the people out.
The woman who moved in said she’s not a squatter and has a lease.
She did not immediately provide a copy of the lease to ABC7 Chicago.
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