ECON Property owners take home back from alleged squatters

[20Gauge]

Property owners take home back from alleged squatters

LYNNEOOD, Wash. (KOMO) — The family of a property owner forced entry into their home on Monday in order to evict three people who are accused of moving into the house in Lynnwood, Washington state with their belongings, changing the locks on doors and creating a fraudulent lease. Caption: A...

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LYNNEOOD, Wash. (KOMO) — The family of a property owner forced entry into their home on Monday in order to evict three people who are accused of moving into the house in Lynnwood, Washington state with their belongings, changing the locks on doors and creating a fraudulent lease.






Amir Rai said he brought friends with crow bars to get inside the property, located in the 6200 block of 208th street SW in Lynnwood.

“So I broke the windows of our own house," Rai said. "It’s our property."

Once inside, the group was able to flush out the trio of people who had made the home their own. The owners spent much of the day carrying the items found inside to the outside curb.

Rai and his three uncles showed KOMO News that documents they said prove that the property belongs to them. The group said they noticed several cars in the driveway of the home last week even though the property was supposed to be vacant since they were in the process of closing on a sale.

That's when they found people who were living inside the home before they called the police.

“They broke in (and) changed the locks," Rai said. "They made a fake lease."

Lynnwood police said the three were able to produce documents of their own that purported to show that they were living there legally. The documents meant police were unable to do anything about the residents, telling Rai and his family they would have to pursue the matter in court.

“They (told) us go to the court," said Naeem Ahmad, one of Rai's uncles. "Make your case and let them evict them.”

The family waited weeks as they attempted to let the legal process play out.

Amir and his uncles decided to take action into their own hands.

The three left without incident and never called police for help, and authorities said the case is now closed.

Amir said he hopes their experience serves as a cautionary tale for other property owners. He said owners of vacant rental homes should check regularly on their properties and even board the site up to help keep people out.

“We don’t want this to ever happen to us or anyone else," Rai said. "Turn the water off (and) make sure the electricity is off so somebody can’t just come in and take over."

Rai and his uncles say after this ordeal, they’re getting out of the rental property game.

“They broke in, they changed the locks. They made a fake lease,” says Rai.

 

[20Gauge]

“We don’t want this to ever happen to us or anyone else," Rai said. "Turn the water off (and) make sure the electricity is off so somebody can’t just come in and take over."


This is one of the things I have trouble with my family..... If the water and power is not off when they move in, you can not (in Georgia) legally shut things off. Sure Ga Power will shut it off, but you will lose in court as soon as they sue you, no matter if they are there legally or not.

 

[DazedandConfused]

And thats how you handle things.

 

[Cardinal]

And thats how you handle things.

Notice the folks "handling things" come from a different culture.

 

[Thunderdragon]

been there. done that. Every attorney would advise against it. the "Squatters" could be injured. claim a heart attack. start shooting at you in "self defense" and claim you stole their belongings. so it kind of becomes a judgement call. As you can see - local police/sheriff etc - will just say - to both sides - go sue the other party. THey do not want to be involved. :This particular landlord probably did not have much to lose....

also - the squatters - I have seen it - can go to court. Put in a "fake landlord" who does not own the property...not notify true owner..and probably get back in. temporarily. I have never seen a liar/cheat tenant who has done this - ever charged with a crime. The system. Is kind of broken.

taken to the extreme. lets say - someone is going to be gone for awhile or maybe has a "second home" . lets also say - no security system. yea - you could go move in. change the locks by showing a fake lease. change all utilities. owner comes home - you call the police....show them fake lease. The police will tell owner - take it to court. you may wait weeks for a hearing.


the way to reclaim it is to try and do the same when the squatters leave.

 

[packyderms_wife]

The police will tell owner - take it to court. you may wait weeks for a hearing.

In some instances I've read about here and elsewhere sometimes it can take decades.

 

[mikeabn]

And thats how you handle things.

Since the authorities do nothing.

 

[Meadowlark]

I knew a dentist who owned an apartment building. When he had to evict a tenant he hired a constable to physically remove the front door so any thief could walk in and steal the tenants stuff. It always worked like a charm. The tenants moved out really quick.

 

[Thunderdragon]

In some instances I've read about here and elsewhere sometimes it can take decades.

I know people who have been waiting months for a hearing...with none scheduled yet. I also know others who actually had hearings and LOST - even though they owned the property! the local elected justice of the peace does not like to evict anyone. TOld them to appeal. 4 months later- still waiting on an appeal hearing.

 

[Thunderdragon]

I knew a dentist who owned an apartment building. When he had to evict a tenant he hired a constable to physically remove the front door so any thief could walk in and steal the tenants stuff. It always worked like a charm. The tenants moved out really quick.

creative solutions are the best
you just need people to "leave" and figure out their schedule. If you can figure this out - you can remove doors and put a ad on facebook or craigslist under a fake account saying free stuff - first come first serve and plaster signs everywhere you are certain there are no cameras. better yet - most of these tenants are not that smart. best to have security alarm and when they break in first time the police will come and if no lease etc will arrest them for breaking an entering. once they are in for abit - then it becomes ahard.

 

[ShadowMan]

I like the GUIDO method of dealing with these kinds of thieves!

That's what they are THIEVES!! They are stealing a whole house. Crack a few heads, bust a couple of knee caps. That gets the message across. Screw going through the crooked courts. Just throw out the garbage and be done with it. If you wait for the legal system to deal with it the home owner will be totally screwed. I've seen what a "squater" can do to the inside of a home.

Like tearing out the inner walls, breaking EVERYTHING inside the home, tearing out plumbing and electrical wiring, ripping up floors, tearing out sinks, toilets, showers, bath tubs, etc., etc., etc.! Requiring the actual owner to completely rebuild the inside of the house or apartment. NO THANKS!!

 

[parsonswife]

I can see a new business service, "professional houses sitters" that go from house to house under direction and contract to rental agencies

 

[Knoxville's Joker]

I can see a new business service, "professional houses sitters" that go from house to house under direction and contract to rental agencies

With dual passports. And arrangements to leave country or town when they run afoul of things. The professionals would have to make a large income to cover having to lose everything to flee the country.

Then we wondered why the GodFather was such a successful video series...

 

[packyderms_wife]

I can see a new business service, "professional houses sitters" that go from house to house under direction and contract to rental agencies

Said companies already exist, I used to work for one back in the 90's, professors go back to where ever it was they came from for the summer or go do research abroad for a year or two and hire people to house sit for them. I'd say services like this have been around for at least forty years or more.

 

[rob0126]

I know people who have been waiting months for a hearing...with none scheduled yet. I also know others who actually had hearings and LOST - even though they owned the property! the local elected justice of the peace does not like to evict anyone. TOld them to appeal. 4 months later- still waiting on an appeal hearing.

So I wonder if they could sell the house and then the new owners could kick them out?

It just doesn't make any sense, unless the state owns your home...

 

[tech]

And thats how you handle things.

Better to do a Clinton on them...or just disappear them.
SSS

 

[Rabbit]

When you move out of your house turn off all of the utilities immediately. Some friends of mine, in a very well-to-do neighborhood in Ga, put their house up for sale and moved out of state. The husband died shortly thereafter and his widow was stuck with a huge water bill.

Someone, across the street they think but couldn't prove, used their water to fill up their inground swimming pool. They had a whopper of a bill to pay.

 

[fish hook]

“We don’t want this to ever happen to us or anyone else," Rai said. "Turn the water off (and) make sure the electricity is off so somebody can’t just come in and take over."


This is one of the things I have trouble with my family..... If the water and power is not off when they move in, you can not (in Georgia) legally shut things off. Sure Ga Power will shut it off, but you will lose in court as soon as they sue you, no matter if they are there legally or not.

Flip the main and padlock the box, same with the water meter.

 

[Dennis Olson]

Feel-good story of the day

 

[NoDandy]

I like the GUIDO method of dealing with these kinds of thieves!

That's what they are THIEVES!! They are stealing a whole house. Crack a few heads, bust a couple of knee caps. That gets the message across. Screw going through the crooked courts. Just throw out the garbage and be done with it. If you wait for the legal system to deal with it the home owner will be totally screwed. I've seen what a "squater" can do to the inside of a home.

Like tearing out the inner walls, breaking EVERYTHING inside the home, tearing out plumbing and electrical wiring, ripping up floors, tearing out sinks, toilets, showers, bath tubs, etc., etc., etc.! Requiring the actual owner to completely rebuild the inside of the house or apartment. NO THANKS!!

I have a friend that had a tenant stiffing him on the rent. Gave the tenant eviction notice, finally hired a lawyer, after almost a year going through court, finally got the tenant out. Owed myfriend over $6000.00 in back rent, PLUS enormous damages, PLUS a big legal bill. He finally began selling off his rentals.

Rentals at one time was a good thing to get into. But the courts got overwhelmed with " Democrap " thinking, and turned against the property owner.

 

[Dennis Olson]

Rentals at one time was a good thing to get into. But the courts got overwhelmed with " Democrap " thinking, and turned against the property owner.

You’re referring to FEELZ.

 

[night driver]

If this were an issue for me, well, I'd have a quiet conversation with them, explaining that on the coming Saturday, they would be fully moved out by 0900....
Because my buddy was going to open ALL of the doors, removing hinges and running an open house. about 2 dozen of his biker brothers would be running the open house.

is guys are, aaaah, well, not QUITE 1%ers, but they are combat vets....

 

[Thunderdragon]

I recommend security with alarm on every house. Call goes right to police in most parts of USA they show up. Unless the squatter has a fake lease on hand - you can press charges fir breaking and entering. Beats the alternative.

 

[Grounded Idealist]

I can see a new business service, "professional houses sitters" that go from house to house under direction and contract to rental agencies

House sitting isn’t new. I did in college for extra money; my son does it now as a side job to help pay the bills. It’s a win-win. The property owner knows that their house is safe and the sitter lives rent free plus a little change.

 

[Old Gray Mare]

I remember a story of a family with house guests who'd overstayed their welcome. The homeowner invited another family over to stay. Sounds counter productive?

The family included a colicy infant, a teenager with a basketball, a hard of hearing uncle and some hyper active kids. Hyperactive kids ran amuck, running, shouting and carrying on being obnoxious kids. Uncle put the game on as loud as the radio allowed (it was a while back). Teenage spun his tunes full volume while dribbling the ball and bouncing it off the walls. The baby expressed his opinion of living conditions at the time. Mom hollered at everyone indiscriminately while cooking something that smelled reminiscent of real Korean kimchi.

The unwanted guests left within an hour or two. Shortly after the new family tidied the kitchen, gathered their stuff and quietly left the homeowners in peace.

 

[Publius]

Hay it's their home and yeah they need to go in and force them out with clubs. The laws in most states allow you to use force or a weapon against someone that inside your home.

 

[Dennis Olson]

As I've said many times, if ANYONE is ever in my house uninvited, they're toast. I'll call the cops afterward.