Serial squatters: Couple has lived rent-free for years, despite being evicted from more than 8 homes

An ABC10 Originals investigation found California's broken eviction system enables people to live rent-free for months at the homeowner's expense.
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[@gustav24-7-52]

If you rent a car for the weekend and try to keep it for a month and refuse to pay additional fees, you can be charged with a felony. Residential space shouldn't be any different.

[@SunShine-vo8kj]

Right I worked for a car rental company and you'd be surprised about how many people do not want to return the car. We actually gave them a chance to return the car before reporting it stolen. We gave them chances to return because once we make that call it's game over for them.

[@sunnycali4984]

CA law makers must have been squatters because they will throw the home owner in jail and protect the criminal

[@dkc8548]

I agree. A friend works at U-haul and said people fail to return trucks frequently. They use them to live in. When they’re apprehended, they are charged with theft.

[@Will_Moffett]

Do you think some pro criminal lobby constructed the current set of laws about evicting people? The laws the squatters are taking advantage of are there for a reason. You are just too dumb for me to even convince that you are dumb because you couldn't follow the logic.

[@deandredunbar9618]

rich people buying up homes and not living in them is a bigger problem if you ask me

[@constancewashington9019]

There needs to be a law to send squatters to jail and have them pay restitution for all the damage. I am shocked that there isn't already a law for this to happen.

[@andrewli1519]

This needs to be a felony offense, it's not right they are just set free after the court case. They need to be sent to prison. One or two homes destroyed is already enough, but 8 of them! They do need to be arrested. Congress is too busy playing games to actually help small family business owners. Every incident that happens in their district or state shall be recorded into their profile, until they help fix the problem. (Wish that's something that could be implemented, so they'll be held accountable and hopefully do something about it) Hard working Americans paid for their houses, these fake tenants and squatters did nothing and even for worse, trashed their homes, a complete disrespect, which describes who the squatters are.

[@TVHouseHistorian]

If the squatters don't have the money to pay restitution, putting them in jail does virtually nothing in terms of deterring future squatting activities. What it's going to take is physical beatings - a team of professionals who take the person captive, and beat them until they have permanent injuries and require intensive care. Have an ambulance at the ready to transport them directly to a local hospital, nurse them back to health, and then have them sign a contract under duress that says they will never commit the same crime again or else they will face another beating and subsequent hospitalization. Another option is to forcibly expatriate them and send them to another country to do forced labor, and in that way, their victims can recover the costs. It's harsh, but we need meaningful consequences in order to keep lawlessness in check.

[@tinman7342]

Not as easy as people think to be a landlord .....but the cardinal rule these people broke was Craigslist . Put another way .....is there a reason you , as a Landlord , are somehow required to turn over an asset worth 3- 500 g to just anybody ? It's the number one thing we constantly hear about when using tenant screening services ...everybody shows up and they all have the idea that they're just going to show up , spin a yarn and get the keys .....the reality many times these days is they start the story , get the paperwork to fill out their personal info with SS # , national credit and criminal background check and then either get angry , threaten to " call the county " for a complaint about some kind of discrimination or just go away . About 2 out of 10 fill it out and end up getting a place to stay . These folks in California could save themselves a lot of grief by spending a couple hundred bucks with an outfit like TurboTenant or one of the other ones .....well worth it .

[@swallowedinthesea11]

@@andrewli1519 Mayhaps they don't have a home or a car to seek shelter in? We all need to be more sympathetic and share what we are blessed with. Crime is rampant and putting more people in prison doesn't lead to reform; if people in government and authority showed more compassion to the underprivileged, there would be more respect and understanding and this would result in zero crime. We need Restorative Justice! Victims should sit down with offenders and get to know their background and ask why they did what they did. We riotously need love and sympathy! We riotously need love and kindness! We riotously need love and encouragement! We riotously need love and compassion! WE RIOTOUSLY NEED LOVE AND WORLD PEACE! Please be nicer! Thank you for taking the time to read this and understanding!

[@cajunbelle]

@@swallowedinthesea11would you feel the same if you got r@ped by someone and then feel sorry as to why they did that to you? Would you want to get to know your r@pist and help them pay for a psychiatrist to better understand why they did that to you? You CANNOT help or UNDERSTAND everyone.

[@PorkChop71912]

There needs to be an online register for known squatters.

[@SRose-vp6ew]

This is why landlords often charge $25 to do a background check on you. If your going to cost them money they can see your history.

[@ChillHodge]

This happens all over the US. Needs to be a felony

[@glenngentry7523]

I know someone who squats in Hinkley . But he did everything right. He has only improved the property installing a new pump to the well. Fixing the house with minor problems but actually squatter are supposed to use something that is called adverse possession to obtain ownership of property:

[@princessmarlena1359]

@@glenngentry7523 exactly. These “serial squatters” give squatters a bad name.

[@pamelamls]

It happens all over the world. Tennants worldwide are not paying rent and living for free. My family in Honduras owned a 2 story big house where tennants lived and did not pay rent and this was even before the pandemic, they were living for free with utilities included. When they finally left we found the house all wrecked and vandalized. My family had to spend several thousands to remodel and do renovations, buy new doors, ceramics, ect..

[@Bekssss]

US can't afford anymore to keep so many people in jail

[@neeciiw7840]

It’s a WORLDWIDE problem, especially in the uk. Ppl will even squat in your shed 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@emmaswartz4549]

My husband is a property manager, he was checking out a potential tenant. Everything looked great on paper. He decided to look up the owner of the house the prospective tenants were currently living in. It didn't match the landlord's name these people put down. He found the real landlords, called them and the tenants were 6 months behind on rent. Be careful of tenants looking for a place right away, they're probably being evicted. Good tenants look for a place 2-3 months in advance. Be careful of someone who's too perfect on paper. Ask why they're moving? Do due diligence.

[@Bonzi_Buddy]

This isn't the same everywhere. There are places with high demand for rent and one has to look 6 months in advance minimum or their options wind up being poor or based on luck more than planning. I live in a high demand area.... If you look 2-3 months in advance, you're taking a real risk of your belongings going into storage and you living at an extended stay hotel for months. I imagine in California this would be the same.

[@Anglynn74]

evicted doesn't always mean something bad. I was evicted from the house I lived in, I needed to find an apt quickly to avoid living out of hotels. At the courthouse I had an eviction filed on me by a local woman, it's on record. However, I was evicted out of the house that I BOUGHT 20 years prior, I owned it. My eviction was not the result of non payment either. Not every eviction filing goes into the details of WHY it's happening. Actually TALKING to the people helps in a situation like this. I paid m y mortgage every single month, never late never behind, my mortgage company decided for a 6 month period to commit accounting fraud on the loan, they shifted around my mortgage payments. I sued them and won, but that was after they auctioned off my house to some local investor when they weren't supposed to, a tactic millions know all too well after the crash in 08. Families needing a place to live quickly with an eviction isn't always a bad thing, there's millions of us in this situation, & we wound up stereotyped because of it. We wound up going up owning our house planning to leave it to our son, being PTA members, little league volunteers, you name it...to homeless & living out of hotels every day even though we were stable in our careers and college graduates....I urge you to TALK TO PEOPLE, never assume, EVER, make sure to get the story first, never let court records decide for you.

[@sarahjenkins7064]

@@Anglynn74 situations like yours is rare and unfortunate. However, accepting anyone with an eviction on their records is a risk not many landlords (or any landlords who understands the monumental task, time, and costs to evict someone) is willing to take.

[@mrtenz4088]

Is it illegal to catch them in public and make a video saying these people haven't payed rent. Share it to everyone

[@amandafindlayfisher8401]

Ya I'm in Canada and it's not like that here we have laws that protect the landlord and the renter but that is the one thing we don't tolerate here is ppl not paying there rent the most a person can get away with is like 3 weeks and the sheriff is there hawling you out on the street

[@MONICA-tl9dj]

Had a squatter claim to be a Sovereign Citizen who claimed he did not have to pay rent. Then filed a Pauper claim. Took 18 months in eviction court and legal fees. FBI got involved on the Sovereign Citizen issue and he did some fraud. He ended up in prison for 5 years.

[@hastyink]

Guess he got another five years of rent free living

[@stuff1784]

@@hastyinkLMAO 😂

[@Xilladan093]

​@@hastyink with bubba

[@msmee0079]

Was that in san diego??

[@DianaPrinceitiswhatitis]

I hope he was charged with felonies!

[@t.5021]

For everyone’s sake, people need to start taking pictures of the squatters. Start passing their picture around to family members, friends and so on. Keep it going all on social media

[@melodiewlin1461]

It’s against law if you do it in Canada 🍁

[@trentonarganbright1871]

​@@melodiewlin1461this isn't Canada

[@sandyduncan6167]

Follow them to their place of work and tell all their coworkers what theyre doing. Pier pressure and embarrassment may upgrade their morals hopefully.

[@kellywade8275]

@@melodiewlin1461 No one will know it's you. Or just leak Ring recording as a glitch

[@kellywade8275]

@@melodiewlin1461 I always knew that Canada wasn't so great, and I've never been there.🤷🏾‍♀

[@cinemabunny]

A land owner made himself a legal tenant of his late mother's house that had squatters. He moved in and changed the locks. The squatters called the police but he produced the lease thereby giving him renters rights. He scheduled a time for the squatters to get their possessions but he had his guys move the items to the curb. No setting foot on the property.

[@davidmembril9576]

A registry should be compiled and put on line with known squatters so that home owners can look up information on potential renters. .complete with photos

[@dquan731]

Or just change the eviction law to give landlords the right to kick anyone out at any time for any reason. The tenants reserves the right to sue for wrongful eviction later.

[@f.acostaa9429]

I agree with you David. And support for the homeowners. Plaster flyers with their faces, all over town so that everyone knows who they are.

[@gracieortega1831]

Along with photos

[@constancewashington9019]

There should also be a law to send them to jail and pay restitution for damages.

[@jerrymylove1754]

When you evict someone there will be a public record of it. You can simply look it up in your local court house online. You can also look across the whole country. I make the tenant do that check. It’s still not fool proof. My suggestion is to start the eviction process asap anytime you have a bad tenant stop paying and especially if they don’t want to communicate.

[@KK-pm7ud]

If this stuff was falsified, then it should be immediate cause for eviction and the start to a fraud case for prosecution.

[@kelleyspears1218]

The problem is these homeowners took the squatters’ information at face value and never bothered to do an independent check on what was provided. Hire someone if need be to do the legwork on background checks, etc., and save yourself a lot of anxiety and money. Hard lesson learned.

[@KK-pm7ud]

@@kelleyspears1218 So you disagree that if the renter provided fraudulent information, they shouldn't be able to immediately evict them?

[@Mk101T]

@@KK-pm7ud Yes the landlord has the right to start the eviction process based on being provided false information . But obviously in this story , failure to pay rent started first before they then bothered to find out if the information was fraudulent . But no the courts are not going to first convict them to remove them on the say so of the landlord. Might as well ask that landlords get to evict based on a tenants facebook posts . IMMEDIATELY !!!

[@MundiTaurus]

@@KK-pm7ud Don't try to put your dumb things in another person's brain, or mouth! It does not matter, (except to the landlord that winds up out thousands), they entered into a legal agreement for rental. So, it is then an issue of non-payment, which starts the eviction process. The main issue was stated. To begin with, potential tenants have to be thoroughly scrutinized.

[@KK-pm7ud]

@@MundiTaurus If a person acquired something under false pretences, the transaction should be able to be reversed by the counterparty. If a person acquired a loan stating that they made $100,000 per year and provided false documents, then the loan should be able to be reversed or unwound even if the counterparty hasn't missed a payment. It's logical.

[@katttmandoo]

These people should be charged with felonies and at this point already in jail.

[@angelNoll10]

I don't understand why they can't simply get kicked out, and charged for FRAUD and falsified documents at the very LEAST. Bruh. Are they not able to get in trouble for that?

[@user-sw2wv1zx1t]

No one seems to have tried

[@charliebambarger4517]

California law and the gov agencies that greenlight evictions (in practice they avoid authorizing evictions) seem to consider it a win when the tenant stays in the residence no matter the circumstances. Because "housing is a human right". And philosophically they think no landlord should profit from housing.

[@madbug1965]

Send them a $200 gift card to Hometown Buffet from a bogus business. When they all go out to eat, change the locks, and toss their stuff on to the street. 😂

[@saramae6065]

You can be prosecuted for that in my state, so I do not recommend

[@antwanthorogood4921]

😂😂😂

[@konye618]

​@@saramae6065 better than being held hostage by idiots

[@1SavageQueen89]

@@Curling_RackThat escalated quickly 😂

[@rhondasplace3529]

😂 this is genius

[@FallacyDeCuir]

How is this not TRESPASSING?!!??! I don't understand! Trespassing, vandalism, destruction of property, mental anguish.... They should be in prison, and forced to pay restitution if they ever get out! It's like the victims have no rights at all. Unbelievable.

[@113krynn]

It's not trespassing because you are living in an alternate universe now.

[@ryanreeves3165]

How is it not FELONY GRAND THEFT?

[@JuliaShalomJordan]

Yes!

[@mayyy3961]

and fraud, they gave falsified bank documents

[@josephpearlman4010]

Liberal policies. Thank a democrat!

[@Omoroseangel]

Laws must be changed in order for people to be held responsible. Unbelievable.

[@Patrick-rn2wu]

To do that... you need to stop electing democrats... never going to happen in CA.

[@D.E._Sarcarean]

You misunderstand. This is what voters wanted. You get what you vote for.

[@jritz619]

Is there a fine line between laws and greed?

[@DontEven-AsIf-Whatever]

​@@D.E._Sarcareanno one misunderstood anything. The point is "change". Not some backhanded comments👋

[@majermike]

@@DontEven-AsIf-Whatever i think sarcarean's point is californians will continue to vote soft on crime, which is why the "change" has not yet occurred

[@elizabethgrogan8553]

My best friend rented out a property she had inherited. Their 2nd renter stopped paying rent after just 3 months. After a few months of this, there was a break in when the tenants were out. My friend was told by neighbours. She got a locksmith to change the locks and police were called, who confirmed a break in. She put a note on the door telling the tenants of the break in, and asking them to come to her house to get a new key. They didn't turn up. My friend did some renovations and sold the house. The burglars were friends who did my pal a favour!

[@sandriagutierrez2605]

Squatters share two things in common: they are destructive, and unclean. Every place they leave, is left a costly mess! Just like their lives.

[@cholst1]

Strange, here where the laws are fairly lax, they generally just occupy unused properties that are in possession for years by giant multinational corporations (blackrock etc), theres even a mapping service that highlights those buildings. For the most part they contribute positively to the community they are part of (free movie nights, concerts, community libraries, public events). Ofcourse, there are rotten eggs in all baskets. But I'd rather have squatters as a neighbours than dilapidated buildings owned by speculative firms who drain cities of wealth and prosperity. I try not to generalize entire groups of people in my statements though, which you clearly love.

[@ukmedicfrcs]

​@@cholst1 You make criminals sound so sweet. 🙄

[@Gfysimpletons]

“Migrants”, squatters, druggies, 🥷🏿, etc

[@2okaycola]

Succinct analysis

[@sandriagutierrez2605]

@Karl with a K in the same token, as is your opinion of me.

[@RT-xj7el]

Why isn't this a crime? These people should have a criminal record so it is easy to look them up and see their corrupt history.

[@michaelburke7742]

They should be in jail.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

If it affected the rich, there would be no way this could happen. But when it merely affects poor individuals, they have no recourse. That's just how it goes. Criminal activity pays. The system protects them, baby! 💪😎✌️ Ain't nothin' but a G thing.

[@reprovedcandy]

It's literally theft! and its a theft worth 10's of thousands of dollars in a lot of cases, especially in CALIFORNIA!

[@justinkennedy-ix2nh]

Democrats won’t make it against the law. In fact, in Denver they want to pass a law that says you can’t evict people for not paying rent. I’m thinking of renting out my house and moving there to live for free.😉

[@andyfetzer9156]

Because from a government perspective, people on the streets is bad and it doesn't matter who's in your home as long as the payments keep coming.

[@dylanmoris6211]

Pensioners grappling with the difficulty of meeting essential expenses often encounter this situation due to inadequate savings during their working years. The decisions taken in readiness for retirement carry extensive consequences, as demonstrated within my own family dynamics. Differing investment approaches yielded disparate results. Guided by a financial advisor.

[@williamsbrown4026]

Indeed, that's accurate. I'm currently in my mid-50s. My wife and I were on a similar path until a couple of years ago when I decided to shift my investments to her wealth manager. While I haven't quite caught up to her accumulated profits over the years, I'm at least earning more now. I'm generating income even before retirement, and my retirement fund has experienced remarkable growth compared to what it would have with just the 401(k). It's quite amusing.

[@KelvinWallace]

@@LionTowercoporation I've been thinking about going that route. I have a lot of stocks that I have maintained, but they are beginning to lose value, so I'm not sure if I should hold onto them or sell them. I feel hiring your investment coach would make it easier to restructure my portfolio.

[@KelvinWallace]

Thank you for the information. I conducted my own research on Colleen Janie Towe, It appears to be highly skilled and knowledgeable. I've sent her an email and arranged a phone call. Her expertise is impressive, and I'm eagerly anticipating our conversation.

[@pamelawing5747]

My brother was a police officer in Marin County for 30 years, and he was very familiar with serial squatters. He would talk about one family who had never paid a dime of rent for years. It's incredible. There has to be an equitable way to handle this and the laws needs to be changed. A lot of owners are just trying to get a retirement income from a couple of houses. Covid was really a blow to them. On the other side, there have been tenants that have rented long term and suddenly get a notice that their rent is going from 1500.00 per month to 3500.00 per month. It has happened across the country. Florida has been a huge participant in those kinds of increases. You don't pay, you're out. It has contributed to the homeless situation of families. So, whose the villain? It depends. In this case Mario and his people are certainly jerks. I wonder how some of this behavior doesn't get on his credit report. Maybe it's illegal and is considering slandering him? There has to be a way to make laws that are sensible and protect the owner and the tenant.

[@forgottenman8629]

there are indeed bad actors, but for everyone there's a 100 bad tenants. And folks are relying on rental income for retirement, no different now than 500 years ago; income property is the 'blue collar' form of retirement we do not have a fat PERS check coming every month and local, state, and fed. government 'must' come to grips with how the 'real world' functions...

[@stephanieellison7834]

Sounds like a civil war is coming.

[@lovekay5262]

Never let the tenant give you their background check. This is common sense. Landlords should hire third party vendors to do all background checks. The tenants can alway falsify documents but not a third party vendor that’s their to do background checks and to make sure the documents are legitimate.

[@nottheone582]

@@karlwithak. if not illegal, thats highly unethical.

[@stephenhumphrey1767]

On top of commodotizing shelter you found a way to make it more unethical

[@kelleyspears1218]

@@nottheone582 What’s unethical about it? It has prevented him from losing thousands of dollars by vetting the most appropriate tenants for his property. If people were looking to move into a big apartment complex, they’d have their rules. They also have a corporation and lawyers looking out for them. The small mom and pop landlord usually doesn’t. He’s protecting HIS investment.

[@Invisableme39]

@@nottheone582 it’s un-ethical and illegal for tenants, to high jack ones property, choosing to squat, not pay rent, damage a property. I am for background checks. As landlords, we don’t need to be financially responsible for tenants that fall into the category’s I have stated.

[@Invisableme39]

@@repentandbelieveinJesusChrist9 organized religions in any form are a crime.

[@hammersampson]

Everyone I know who’ve rented their home out has told me a horror story like this. Yet…they still rent out their home. Best place I’ve heard for being a landlord is Nevada. The Sheriff will actually throw out the tenants for you.

[@danibart2]

​@@banhammer3904the sheriff has to be present

[@chrissz1762]

That is absolutely awesome.

[@stephanieellison7834]

Sounds like a civil war is coming!

[@sunshine9717]

Well, if nothing else, just call your big brothers and let them. Throw their A....out. 😉

[@ethanlessig649]

@@banhammer3904by “sheriff”, he means the constable lol

[@catblackman5874]

I heard a landlord in court say he rather go to jail for dragging tenants out than have them live rent free for years.

[@Robbie-mw5uu]

based

[@aprild3250]

Squatters also contribute to the homelessness issue. Because so many home owners have been burned by squatters, they no longer want to rent to full-time live ins. Which makes it very difficult for families to find a home to rent. It’s a real problem in the area I live. I am a California resident.

[@nyengo]

🤣

[@gagejernigan5277]

How is it not trespassing? There shouldn’t be another term for this. Squatter is sugarcoating it. They are criminals, trespassers, and thieves.

[@Young_Dab]

That's the thing. Jails don't wanna keep locking up homeless people for squatting

[@americanedokko2782]

💯💯💯

[@joshwells7752]

This has nothing to do with the law that's what kills me about you Americans you people in this world this is simply knowing right from wrong you had every right to take action

[@pab1381]

@@joshwells7752yeah you’d think that but somehow it isn’t that way.

[@chuckstro1769]

@@Young_Dabbecause you’ll be paying for it

[@michaelcooper9097]

It's surprising that these serial squatters haven't had an "accident". The homeowners have much more self control than I do.

[@ihama99]

😅😅😅😅😅

[@ashleym6765]

This comment! 👏🏽

[@Zero11_ss]

I've watched a lot of these and it seems to be older age owners often

[@davidwilliams5407]

Under these circumstances, it would be very handy to have an influential friend . . . a "Godfather," you might say . . .

[@Anglynn74]

now you know how millions of families felt after the crash in 08 when dozens of banks literally stole their homes. I have thoughts every single day about my mortgage company that if vocalized I'd never be able to get out of legally. welcome to our world and NO ONE was ever held accountable for it. This video above is one property, this was MILLIONS of homes, MILLIONS of families, at the rate of thousands per month Welcome to our world of anger.

[@mssmiles0503]

How do you rent out a house for over 30 years and not have the mortgage paid off?

[@mrsjamessmom9044]

I just paid my 30 year mortgage a couple months ago. 😊

[@macromancer]

When I got to the phrase "credit report was falsified" my brain exploded. Who would accept a credit report copy from an applicant?!?! If you provide credit or housing, you need to run a credit report YOURSELF directly with the reporting agency. That is why you charge fees for applications so you can perform these checks YOURSELF. I get these serial squatters are swarthy professionals, but that doesn't mean you get to be lazy and not do what you need to protect yourself and your investment.

[@katrinataylor6604]

I wish they showed these people

[@msmaam6027]

All landlords should check background for eviction. What's amazing is that these squatters aren't trying to hide by changing their name.

[@gustav24-7-52]

No, landlords should flood into the state capitals and become squatters in the offices of congress members. If you rent a car for the weekend and try to keep it for a month, you can get charged with a felony. Residential or commercial space should be no different.

[@kell2229]

Hire a local biker gang to get them out

[@deniselockhart2882]

I incurred a massive amt of debt when renting out my townhouse in Virginia. It was a nightmare. I will never ever ever even rent out a bedroom to anyone ever again. Squatters should be convicted as felons. Shoplifters go to jail if caught, why are squatters given a free pass?

[@sandras.8605]

i think it should depend on if a gentle, desperate homeless or poor person takes some food from a store, or a piece of clothing, at times, i definitely don't think they should go to jail, but a professional criminal is another story....

[@gilbertvehicleservices]

Unfortunately, behavior like this has been going on for many years. From the late 1980s until the mid-2000s a friend of mine was a landlord in Detroit. his worst tenants were police and firefighters. At that time, the city of Detroit had a residency requirement for all of its employees. Police and firefighters would sign a lease, pay their first month’s rent and have that lease to be able to show their annual residency requirement. Then they would stop paying rent. It would take 2 to 3 months to “evict” them, even though they never actually moved into the house. That would be lost rent for the landlord and legal fees to get through the eviction. After having this occur multiple times, my friend stopped renting to police and firefighters.

[@mikeohagan2206]

charge them. if convicted the cops will lose their jobs. however i dont really believe your friend.

[@7thlady]

this is why you, as a landlord, PAY the fees to do your own legal background checks and lawsuit searches, rather than relying on documents and information given to you by the applicant. You can even require that the applicant pay an application fee to cover your costs for those background checks before you run them, but as a business person, which is what a landlord is, you have to pull that background yourself. I'm sorry this nice couple had to learn that lesson the hard way.

[@Fruitflyonyourwall]

This stuff still happens even with background checks, some fall through the cracks because they know what they’re doing.

[@jeretso]

Scams target elderly all the time. Some homeowners get deployed and squatters sneak in. I may be required to take low income tenants and forced to ignore red flags. A first time squatter will not have a record and could lawyer up. Some squatters just leave and are not reported.

[@tamarathejudeochristianmedium]

Some squatters move in while people are on vacation and have false documents saying they have a lease 💙🙏🏻💙

[@privateprivate6800]

Great Reporting! Keep it up to educate the horrendous activities these horrible people are getting away with.THANK YOU

[@saraparker184]

where are the pictures of these serial squatters? why are they being protected?

[@gracieortega1831]

Laws need to be changed to stop protecting them

[@user-qk5dr8os8o]

Government don’t care . If homeowner lose, the bank win. Resell value will increase , government collect higher tax .

[@nyengo]

Yes please change the laws to protect people from landlords

[@Shiell123]

I'm in Toronto and this is EXACTLY what happened to us. I'm surprised to see this happening in the US. The laws are biased towards small (mum and pop) landlords. Professional renters are all over the place and are extremely versed in the law and any loop holes they can exploit. Two years in and over 20K in unpaid rent + damages, these squatters are still in our place!! Honest hard working folks are suffering because of these bandits.

[@luimba761]

Wow amazing patience. I would have been in jail for a long time on first week

[@MemoirsofaBasketcase]

@@banhammer3904must live in a red state…lucky

[@sjohnson65456]

Ha why would you be surprised at what happens here in the US?

[@gentilewarrior]

​@@MemoirsofaBasketcasecastle doctrine law that's why there's no squatters on places like Texas 😂 you trespass you get shot simple as that, only in Commiefornia where lowlife squatters get protection from liberals

[@rickfeng4466]

Laws are biased toward small mum-and-pop landlords? More like biased against us! You should be ashamed of yourself for flipping the narrative upside-down! Godless people!

[@justtryme2020]

The laws that protect squatters should be done away with completely. Why should serial thieves have any rights to someone else’s property even for a month? The entire justice system has gradually eroded until now it favors criminals in almost every case.

[@katherinejin8185]

Thank you for sharing your story

[@araliu1443]

These criminals are like the thieves in dept stores.

[@gustav24-7-52]

Worse. Department stores also have law firms on the payroll to represent them in court every time a shoplifter gets caught. A 70 year old retired school teacher couple who owns 4 or 5 rental units to enhance their teacher retirement can't afford to pay for all that justice seeking when they get screwed over by squatters.

[@didforlove]

@@gustav24-7-52 how is It the squatters fault a 70 year old could not afford to retire

[@mikef2811]

And our gov't and politicians also treat them like department store thieves as well...a warning not to do it again. And then the cycle repeats all over again

[@matefamily7883]

One has to wonder why laws have not been put forth to ensure this does not happen to people.

[@ragytag]

CA laws are tenant friendly not LL friendly

[@alberts2208]

Progressives are the problem

[@cholst1]

Until the barbaric custom of demanding money for a roof over your head ends, squatting continues. Or until all landlords are guillotined ofcourse. Pick one.

[@on5samsung72]

Because lawmakers are criminals themselves.

[@circesoul2218]

Because the Government doesn't care about us😂

[@74455776]

This is a serious problem that needs addressing across the country. I am an attorney who handles evictions in Chicago, and one thing I recommend is doing a search of the applicant 's name in the public court records as a start. Many times this step is skipped, and multiple eviction cases are on full display there.

[@hammypie]

Is it easy to search? My dad rents out multiple places to people I need to tell him this

[@74455776]

@hammypie not sure where you are, but the court clerk's office can tell you how to search by name cases past and present.

[@cd-vg3nz]

This is horrible, what a nightmare. I would sell too, it makes you feel violated and I am sure their presence is still felt inside the house. I hope something happens where these nice people can get their money back.

[@timelessmusicfamilymusic9175]

We need strict squatters laws, a federal laws.

[@cawheeler27]

Wdym? We already have the 2nd amendment, that always solves this problem.

[@socalrefrigeration548]

@@cawheeler27 Have fun in prison

[@user-qk5dr8os8o]

@@socalrefrigeration548 scratch out the serial .

[@socalrefrigeration548]

@@user-qk5dr8os8o Also a felony.

[@user-qk5dr8os8o]

@@socalrefrigeration548 squatters create a lot of enemies , you don’t know who got them 😭

[@carolynnunes3922]

There’s a guy who will squat on the squatters! You give him a key to your home, (or he goes through a window), and when he sees that the squatters have left for errands or whatever he will let himself into the home and move in. He’s very good at getting squatters to move out quickly. He won’t leave until they do, and he makes their lives miserable! There ought to be more squatters that represent the homeowner, and will squat in the home that has been taken over by these serial squatters!

[@MrDCMiami]

My devious mind likes your idea. The law forces you to become creative and take over the situation yourself.

[@stuff1784]

What a strange job 😂😂 Imagine putting that on your resumé: “Professional Squatter” Job duties: Helped evict illegal squatters from several residences across California using repeated police reinforcements

[@ryanjohn673]

Yessir the law don't work mankind will solve the issue

[@carolynnunes3922]

@@ryanjohn673 It is PLANNED this way! Soros has liberal judges and prosecuting DA’s who don’t enforce the law! I have seen several people here in SoCal, that have come up with wonderful solutions for the homeless, but it will never be implemented because what Democrats do is set aside money to solve a problem and then they spend that money on committees and paying experts 400 bucks an hour to study these problems without doing anything about these problems except eat up the money without addressing the problem! We are to be kept off balance with a constant barrage of stress and lawlessness! Shoplifting is crazy! Chicago has asked that folks not shoot others between 9PM-9AM! Pretty please? And the Mayor of NY, who sees a couple of bus loads of illegals from the border brought to THEIR Sanctuary city?!? He says they aren’t equipped to deal with this?!? Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Habakkuk 1:2-4 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
 and you will not hear?
Or cry to you “Violence!”
 and you will not save? 3 Why do you make me see iniquity,
 and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
 strife and contention arise. 4 So the law is paralyzed,
 and justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
 so justice goes forth perverted. Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn Isaiah 59:13-14 In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter Isaiah 32:6;8 For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail. But the LIBERAL DEVISETH LIBERAL THINGS; and by LIBERAL THINGS SHALL HE STAND

[@sammieeatsworld]

Affordable housing would probably help all of California's homelessness and squatter issues.

[@nc8414]

I’m sure if someone squatted in a senators home they would be out immediately. Unbelievable

[@wajk23]

I had this happen to me in the city of Chicago. Long story short took over a year and multiple court appearances to get them out and courts would side with the tenant letting them stay longer. It’s a joke and we are still on the hook for all taxes and damages that are rendered.

[@williamgullett5911]

I would wait until they left the house and then go into the house and change the locks. I would wait a week and if they didn’t leave I’m gonna go in with them there. Arrest me.

[@oorto1393]

@@williamgullett5911you would certainly get arrested, since what you are describing is a crime

[@williamgullett5911]

@@oorto1393 somebody in my family would be getting the rent from the next renters.

[@chuckstro1769]

Lol free housing for me

[@williamgullett5911]

@@chuckstro1769 your free housing comes with a thumping.

[@Estellbel1968]

Why can’t they be arrested they are trespassing BS

[@bellagirlgirl8827]

it's called legislated insanity -- laws that go too far to protect tenants

[@Mrs.CGraves]

In California if they have a Lease agreement it’s technically the Homeowner that is trespassing and you have to go thru the Courts to get them out, they have tenants rights. It takes months and chasing them for damages is futile. It takes years to get a judgement lien and maybe ano year to start getting payments.. that is if they have a job.

[@karencarpenter5845]

I believe if you put no trespassing signs all over your property, it gives cops a different pathway. I'm not sure if this is true.

[@smfarrie2943]

@@karencarpenter5845 Will that mean anything at all if they say they have a lease?

[@Estellbel1968]

They need to change that law or the landlords should take it into their own hands I would there’s ways to do things with out having to go through the courts and not having consequences it’s my house your not paying rent you are getting out of my house period .

[@WeylandLabs]

Well when PI firms like Blackstone, Blackwater and Bridgewater are allowed to buy entire neighborhoods and communities across the country then raise prices almost 3x fold your going to have people like this that will fight back. Unfortunately these people did it against the home owners that are not as receptive to the laws in that city state and county. And lets be honest here - they are losing income from the sqautters that's not right but if they cant afford to go through the steps of a sqautters possiblilty then they arent really hurting for cash are they ? If this story was in San Fransico they'd be out already because those firms own the properties and can expedite evictions.

[@garymiller4141]

This happened to my neighbor who owns a double house. During covid there was a moritorium on rent one of his tenants did not pay for nine months and did not pay utilities cost either.The tenant moved out and left him holding the bag and the utility company would not turn on the power until the landlord payed the back charges. He had to pay the mortgage and taxes out of his own pocket or loss the property. But what do you expect is going to happen when the Biden administration sends all of the free money to the tenants and not to the landlord. This stoped me from ever investing in rental property.The tenants have more rights than the owners.

[@vancelubben5300]

It's not about Biden. These laws have been put in place for Squatters since the 1800's

[@Invisableme39]

There are no protections for landlords in CA.

[@theashpilez]

The mob rules. Don't kid yourself. If they want you out , and have enough local support it getz done in a jiffy. The car get vandalized to hammer the issue home. False narratives rule the world.

[@GruneD]

There is, you just need to know the law and follow proper protocol. Do not get into “investments” or real estate if you don’t know the laws or have a proper Real Estate Attorney!

[@Liukanginthehouse]

​@@GruneD obviously you don't own any property in ca based on your dumb vague comment.

[@Invisableme39]

@@GruneD as an established landlord myself in CA….

[@jillflores3076]

same in vermont-- no protections

[@lavenberry]

It's so hard to find a place to rent once you have an eviction on your record. I wonder how the squatters are able to do this. 🤔

[@aislingsibeallyons3416]

It was Craigslist 😂😂😂😂 owner didn't do homework or anything. Never use Craigslist ever !!!!!!!!

[@kutie216]

@@aislingsibeallyons3416 I found my last rental on craigslist but we paid our rent on time. I live in the midwest so it’s not as risky to use craigslist but there are a lot of scams you have to pick through

[@laurierice7687]

They use false paperwork & even draw up false leases signed by a stranger who Doesn't own the home - claiming they were tricked. The perps try to become the victim!

[@smoothbraindetainer]

As the video said, the documents were forged. They committed fraud. Fraud should allow for instant eviction IMO.

[@mikef2811]

@@aislingsibeallyons3416 YEP. Craigslist are full of scammers

[@WallyTony]

These poor people. I'm still dealing with the same situation.

[@tessietesoro7407]

I rather sell my house, instead of renting it to tenants. I know problems will occur , especially if I don't know the renters. Now I'm a widow, living in a house with 4 bedrooms. I'm at peace living alone, no problems at all. Life is beautiful.

[@territyson9005]

I'm so sorry you all had to go through all of that!

[@starshine3588]

The problem is…this can happen with just people breaking in while you’re on vacation and the police and courts won’t remove them until you go through all the court steps which costs tons of money….and they also won’t be charged with a crime if they do damage to your house. Laws need to change to protect the property owners….it’s their property…not the squatters.

[@Celtic_Amy]

This should be a crime. My parents rented their home years back. When the renters stopped paying it was $500 to just for the lawyer to make eviction paperwork. My parents sued the tenant that also wasn't free. If the renter files bankruptcy you can't get money. In this instance, I think all the tenants need to get together and take the tenants to court.

[@HelenEk7]

Where I live this is not possible. You put in the contract that when they stop paying rent they have to leave within X weeks after the payment was due. If they refuse to leave on that date you can call the police and show them the contract, and the police will evict them. (Norway)

[@freedcorporateslave]

And what is California's answer? Expand rent control and make evictions harder for Mom and Pop landlords with SB 567. Wonder why rents are so high? You'd have to be insane to offer a home as a long term rental in California. Just sell it and move on or offer it as a vacation rental.

[@donnacreamer4123]

In California if you let someone stay in your house for more than 10 days they end up having more rights than you do. It’s insane laws that punish the honest people and reward the criminals.

[@PelosiStockPortfolio]

People need to stop hoarding homes and instead sell their old starter homes to the next young couple. Otherwise, younger people just get stuck in a rent forever trap and it screws up how the next generation starts a family etc

[@fashiondiva6972]

@@PelosiStockPortfolio by your logic serial thieves are victims of other peoples’ hard work and home ownership. I hardly consider owning 2 homes to be hoarding. In any event there’s a massive hole in your attempt at logic and persuasion (aside from the fact your position has zero basis in law or fact): whether I own 2 homes or 1 doesn’t mean the squatting thief (and many, many others) could come remotely close to qualifying for a mortgage. You’ve stated a nonexistent cause and effect relationship between available inventory and ownership qualifications. I own 2 homes, one in SoCal and another in Las Vegas. I live and work in both. I earned the money to pay for two homes; I owe you and anyone else precisely nothing. If you can’t afford to live in CA, move. I’m living proof it can be done, even as a young war widow with 4 kids living on a military paycheck, even before that, before I became an attorney then judge. Your attitude reeks of victim mentality and entitlement. I see it daily in my courtroom and it’s an embarrassment. Your condonation of criminal activity is appalling. There is no justification in this circumstance for being a thief and certainly not a low supply of available homes for resale. Going through life thinking the system needs to bend to your will and wishes is a recipe for perpetual disappointment and far worse.

[@PelosiStockPortfolio]

@@fashiondiva6972 I dont care about a second home in another state you actually live and work in. I'm talking about people buying investment homes, flipping homes, etc which contributes to over prices housing and makes it harder for younger people to own a home. I am 41, I own a home in San Diego, this isn't some selfish "i want your home" post. This is also not trying to justify squatting which is absolutely disgusting. This is about recognizing a problem and the things that contribute to it. If you think people never selling their starter home and instead choosing to rent it is not impacting young people looking to buy starter homes then you need to think harder

[@anidiotmakesthings]

I have long term rentals. You just have to keep them nice, and use a property manager. Stop trying to save $200 a month on your rental by doing the work yourself.

[@eyerule6153]

how did the landlords just take paperwork they received at face value instead of doing their own research

[@annemiura7767]

Don’t blame the victim

[@DrQandtheGang]

A prudent and protective landlord will find these checks becoming more and more costly and probably for a reason. Almost as if mortgage banks are the real culprit setting you up. Come to find

[@Jams90.]

These people outsmarted the system. If they want it to change, change the system.

[@lulilulu8172]

Always conduct a full detailed background, credit, etc.

[@kelleyspears1218]

This is why I never let my husband become a landlord. There’s an attachment to your personal property, unlike an apartment complex owned by a company. And that couple who went back into their home at the end of the video should be grateful there wasn’t MORE damage. I’ve seen far, far worse when tenants leave.

[@jetjan]

especially foreigners-USA can hurt there credibility here in USA -not globally if they move back to there own country

[@techibabe]

I feel sorry for these people who got scammed by low lives I too went through the same thing I even had property management from the beginning and we owners could not do anything except bleed cash to get rid of low lives be very very careful My tenant was from Long Beach and this surrounding areas

[@user-bs1no8pl8e]

mad respect

[@harveywallbanger1738]

Is there any actual law that keeps you from adding this to the rent agreement?: "All occupants agree to allow the owner (or representative) to move into the domicile starting 5 days after rent payment is late."

[@untouchable360x]

Found them on craigslist because it was the cheapest option? "The cheapest option is usually the most expensive option to fix."

[@luiscastillo7009]

"make sure and go with your gut" ... that's precisely what you don't do. That's what got the lady in trouble when the guy seemed like a nice guy.

[@xfiles4792]

Squatters got emboldened when the feds enacted eviction bans. That's what killed my rental real estate business.

[@christopherwilliams7113]

I’m tired of the news hiding these criminals faces and information. If you commit any kind of crime in my opinion you’ve lost the right to privacy. Post their faces, birth dates, any information about them and plaster it everywhere!

[@vickijohnson4224]

There’s absolutely no protection for landlords. There are serial squatters that break into properties and make fake leases, and they still must be evicted. So credit checks, etc. really don’t do any help when the people in your property have broken in.

[@Mrs.CGraves]

They chose houses vs apartments for exactly this reason. It’s a FREE house for about 9-12 months. Then they do it again and again, move “friends” in, But they have money for cars, hair, nails, clothes.. eating out. I costs the homeowner every month to not be foreclosed on. And getting a judgment lien takes a year in the courts, and they can’t pay until there is a JOB.

[@nateums]

Yup had a friend that had squatters that did this next to his town home… it took over 2 years to get them out… he ended up selling from distress after that

[@WeggieQueen2005]

If they are serial squatters they'd eventually have some mark against them, but I agree...they're cvile people. A vacant place they steal and I bet if one of them got hurt on that property they'd sue the home owners and probably win! ugh

[@emanresu8968]

@@WeggieQueen2005 It's california, they won't get a mark. Now try to be behind on your mortgage and the sheriff will be knocking on your door the next day. 1 thing all these squatter stories show is that if the house is owned by the bank the police will clear it otherwise they don't care

[@WeggieQueen2005]

@@emanresu8968 Really? I know in OH and FL people sit and sit and sit. So, I think it's more than just CA.

[@kikilynn1167]

These homeowners did not do their due diligence. Before turning over the biggest asset you own to someone else, run a credit check on them, call and talk to their employers, call and talk to their previous landlord, drive by their previous rental location.

[@HijabiRuby]

Finally someone said it. It’s hard to feel sorry for someone who essentially bought it upon themselves by not following the right protocol and necessary procedures. But hey I’m sure they learned their lessons

[@peterthegreat996]

It’s people like you that require laws to be passed .

[@anidiotmakesthings]

@@peterthegreat996 You’re poor 😂😂😂🤣🤣😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣😂😂🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣

[@thesquad2253]

geez u gotta be detective just to be landlord these days🤣🤣

[@POPOPOKEH]

These homeowners are the everyday people that should be protected, who have jobs in the day and not all the legal resources because that is expensive

[@nishadobbins7975]

I currently have a squatter in the basement. It's a nightmare. He lives in the basement and sleeps in the garage. He will not go away. It's very stressful 😫

[@patrickorourke41]

I agree with hiring a property manager. It may cost more, but it saves you so much time and headaches having them take care of background and payments.

[@hppavilionf50]

#LockThemUp

[@vikvargas2118]

That’s why renting your home is not always profitable.

[@lesliebeacom4567]

I was the victim of a serial squatter. It was horrible - pretty much the same scenario as these folks, only it took over a year to get the tenant out. Lie, after lie, after lie. It cost me at least $1-2K in lawyers fees, approx $40K in lost rent payments (while I still had to pay the mortgage), PLUS she stole everything that wasn't nailed down (washer & dryer, refrigerator, etc) and damaged the pool, the yard, etc. After about $25K in repairs, I was able to sell the property. NEVER AGAIN! My first mistake was being an absentee landlord. I was in TX taking care of a very sick friend and the house was in SoCal. All I can say is BEWARE! Even if the tenant does show proof of income and gives you references, they can all be fake.

[@robertbone3064]

If these people need a free place to live the judge needs to put them up for a year, in jail.

[@kathrynrussell1597]

Need to plaster their pictures all over social media

[@papagen00]

The homeowner should sue the realtor for not properly screening the applicant.

[@califdad4]

Sounds like they handled it themselves

[@aislingsibeallyons3416]

It was Craigslist 😂😂😂😂

[@valerieneal2747]

@@aislingsibeallyons3416 IKR??

[@cawheeler27]

Lol that definitely wasn’t their job.

[@coffeeblogger7441]

Contract is void if the rental agreement is placed under false information! That why you have to be vigilant

[@darupeeka]

This is why rent prices are out of hand.

[@michaelhollis764]

I'm surprised the house wasn't absolutely wrecked. They actually left it in relatively decent condition.

[@fremontusc]

Thank you for reporting the story. The general media never shows the side of the landlord that takes tremendous risk renting properties to provide much needed housing for renters.

[@scottbarnett3566]

Tremendous risk? You could just sell the property. Ah right no equity in that yeah? Tremendous risk. Pfft. You’re not storming Normandy Beach!

[@hopedorman7721]

Landlords who rent out single family homes they didn’t build don’t provide housing, they take away a unit from being able to be sold to another household. Housing developers provide housing.

[@nyengo]

@@scottbarnett3566🔥🔥🔥

[@michaelbagley9116]

The real question is the history of these people. At what point, does the fact that falsified documents and their history of this squatting should be enough to get criminal charges filed against them for theft. Their history should be enough for a prosecutor to file theft by fraud charges.

[@RaviSingh-wr1kp]

In CA law only for good people not for fraudulent criminal especially this days

[@Herman992113]

This is why more and more landlords are now doing air bnb instead of renting out the place.

[@mattdeans9873]

It's so hard not to want to quietly hire someone qualified to go in without anyone noticing and just make those squatters disappear without a trace. No muss, no fuss.

[@kristilisakleiner9384]

Yep….

[@davidb4935]

What would that process look like?

[@nyengo]

🤡

[@keithcamic1555]

When you have politicians that don’t uphold the laws on the books or pass laws that protect the people they serve this is what you get. These people are obviously emboldened to think they can just get away with this. They should get lengthy jail terms and pay people back.

[@sterlthepearl1000]

This is exactly why Land Lords want as much as they do for security deposits, because it takes the pathetic court system months to evict these dead beats.

[@helenhines2712]

There shouldn't be a next time for these criminals. Why aren't they being charged for their many crimes? Why are they free to do this over and over again?!!! If this happened to me, they would be behind bars.

[@Julia-iy6ey]

How would you go about doing that?

[@foltzenlogel]

The courts consider this a civil matter not criminal. It should be the same as defrauding an innkeeper or at least theft of services.

[@happydayz7857]

Liberal laws created by liberals. They need votes

[@peterzinia3767]

Why try? The laws don't punish people who do this & you aren't going to get any money from them. You have to catch them when they aren't at the residence, force them into a rented van or moving truck,drive them someplace deserted & "Drop them off". While driving you call a guy that hauls junk away & have him & his helpers clear out everything in the house. I mean everything. Right after that you get someone to clean the place thoroughly. Then if anybody asks you can say that they moved. Planning is very important. Be careful you don't accidentally kill anyone. Wink.

[@nyengo]

Exactly, why aren’t landlords charged for hoarding homes?

[@txxxchao]

One serial squatter put me in debt for a year. Had I not had another income, my debt would continue to escalate. My story is not the worst though. My friend's friend had a squatter for years. I think the law needs to be changed to be fair to the landlord. The current law has many problems.

[@williamgullett5911]

Im going through the window and ripping them out of my home by the hair. And yeah, I understand it’s not the best idea.

[@Wrath419]

Good, people that try to exploit other for their own greed deserve to get screwed over.

[@williamgullett5911]

@@Wrath419 the cops use their greed to catch them. I think it’s hilarious when the police send out letters to people with warrants that they won some big prize like a trip somewhere and all they have to do is come to an address and claim their prize. When they show up they get arrested. Hilarious

[@leonardoD81]

They should be in jail for the amount of time they didn't pay rent.

[@RobertoGonzalez-yq7cf]

That's the reason why if the system failed you, then you must take justice by your hands and that should be legal.

[@deborahmiles6250]

I had a real squatter, that I didn't rent to so I handled them accordingly. It didn't cost any legal fees but I had to make repairs. I don't necessarily recommend what I did but trust me it worked and the word spread throughout the area.

[@Bombaycompany1776]

Please share what you did.

[@deborahmiles6250]

@@Bombaycompany1776 Well I'm proud member of the NRA and let's just say that I happened to have my weapon on me when I discovered the person had taken possession of my home, that person had 5 minutes to vacate before things got out of hand. I had a lock smith there in 20 minutes and a gate reason there in an hour to cut off access to the property. Let's just call it Street justice but it worked.

[@MrDCMiami]

@@deborahmiles6250 Good job, Deb. When they know you won't be constrained by the law, they'll just move on to their next unsuspecting victim. They are experts in finding them.

[@calvinh.8882]

There needs to be a website built so that every homeowner can place squatters that had to be evicted names/info on so that every homeowner has a place to go and see if those trying to rent their house have ever been evicted for squatting.

[@sinebar]

They need to include a category in the credit reports for serial squatter.

[@crisisbliss2462]

Squatters and especially serial squatters should be charged with breaking and entering, theft, hijacking and what ever else can be thrown at them. The should also have a judgement placed against them for the money they cheated the owners out of. But the system likes it like this.