Squatters move into Maryland home after it sold, changed locks
Share this @internewscast.com

Dealing with squatters in rentals and vacant homes has become more of an issue than ever before.

Aggravating the situation are swindlers on social media who are reportedly preying on vulnerable individuals seeking housing by directing them towards homes that have been recently vacated, for a nominal charge, of course. 

Case in point: A local news outlet out of Maryland shared the story of Mike Haskell, the owner of a house in Windsor Mill, MD.

Having invested tens of thousands in renovating the four-bedroom, two-bath property, Haskell was just a day away from closing a sale when he received an unwelcome phone call. 

By the next morning, he’d learned that an unknown family of four had been living on the property for at least a week—without his permission. 

“There should be nobody there”

In an interview with Spotlight on Maryland, Haskell shared that his potential buyer was the one who informed him about the squatters. They noticed a U-Haul truck stationed outside the house and decided to contact Haskell to inquire about the situation. 

“They thought it was maybe being unstaged for advertising, and I said, ‘No, that was done way earlier. There should be nobody there,’” Haskell said.

Turns out, the situation had become quite serious. According to Haskell, he was forced to call the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD) after he and his colleagues noticed that the locks on the property had been changed, and the sale sign had been removed from the front yard.

The police treated the initial call as a “civil matter,” according to documents obtained by Spotlight on Maryland. No official charges or arrests were made, and the squatters were not removed. 

When the local outlet came to check in on the situation themselves with Haskell, they approached the family, who confessed to Spotlight that they were “unlawfully occupying Haskell’s property and recognized that their presence allegedly interfered with an active sale to prospective buyers.”

In speaking with the outlet, a man and a woman explained how they found the home through a social media advertisement offering a one-time fee of $7,500 to move into the Windsor Mill property.

They met the poster at Haskell’s home, handed over a cash payment, and signed a lease document before moving in, which they shared with the reporter. (The couple refused to share the original advertisement they allegedly saw online.)

In the end, Haskell was able to persuade the family, who had two young children, to leave the property and hand over the keys for $3,000.

(Realtor.com® reached out to Haskell for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.) 

Removing squatters isn’t easy 

What makes this story stand out is just how quickly squatters were able to occupy the space.  

Because once a squatter has made their way into a home, it’s very difficult to have them removed. 

Experts agree that the best way to ensure squatters can’t get access to your home is to make sure the property is monitored regularly, even when it’s not occupied. 

“The key to protecting yourself from squatters is preventing them from entering in the first place,” real estate professional and attorney Bruce Ailion, of Re/Max Town & Country in Atlanta, tells Realtor.com. 

In Haskell’s case, the family not only entered the home, but the locks were changed as well, giving them a level of access synonymous with ownership. 

Ailion advises forgoing cheap locks and deadbolts, which he suggests can be opened “in about 10 seconds.” Instead, he recommends buying directly from a locksmith, who has “higher-grade locks that are hard to compromise.”

“As soon as you list a home for sale or lease, invest in cameras and security systems,” adds David Metzger, an attorney at Williams Teusink, a real estate firm in Atlanta. 

Still, even with heightened security, squatter situations happen.

Just like this instance in Maryland, the best course of action if you find squatters on your property is to contact local law enforcement immediately. Note that police usually can’t remove squatters, but your local sheriff should be able to help you oust the intruders. 

And if you’re faced with the worst-case scenario—the squatters refuse to leave—contact a qualified attorney specializing in property law to understand your rights and legal options for eviction proceedings.

Every state has different squatters rights contingencies, but no matter where you live, you should prepare yourself for a fight. 

“It is currently more difficult to get squatters out than getting a delinquent tenant out,” adds Ailion.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Shark bite in South Florida sends man to hospital

Man Hospitalized After Shark Attack in South Florida

A shark attack at a South Florida beach left a man hospitalized…
Close call between a B-52 bomber and a commercial jet over North Dakota puts focus on small airports

Narrow Avoidance Between B-52 Bomber and Commercial Plane in North Dakota Highlights Concerns with Smaller Airports

The quick-thinking maneuver by an airline pilot to steer clear of a…
Columbia University Bends the Knee, Agrees to Stunning Settlement With Trump Administration

Columbia University Concedes, Reaches Notable Agreement with Trump Administration

Money talks, and Columbia University finally admitted that on Wednesday, after a…
Pennsylvania woman allegedly used 10 different aliases to pose as nurse across multiple facilities

Pennsylvania Woman Accused of Using 10 Fake Identities to Work as Nurse in Various Facilities

A 39-year-old woman is accused of using fraudulent documents and at least…
Eliotte Heinz, a missing graduate student, on a pier by the water.

The body of 22-year-old student Eliotte Heinz, who was reported missing, has been discovered in a river more than 10 miles away from where she was last seen walking home.

THE body of a missing Wisconsin grad student has been found 10…
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson downplays idea of raising property taxes after CFO report amid $1B budget deficit

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Dismisses Raising Property Taxes Despite CFO’s Report on $1 Billion Budget Gap

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicagoans may have to prepare for higher property taxes,…
Mugshot of Trista Reilly.

Couple Caught in Intimate Moment During Crowded Flight in Front of Families

A RANDY couple were hauled off by cops for allegedly having sex…
Families of the Idaho students Bryan Kohberger stabbed to death are set to see him sentenced

Families of the Idaho students slain by Bryan Kohberger prepare for his sentencing

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — This week, a judge is expected to impose…
Brian Kohberger in court.

Families and friends of Bryan Kohberger’s victims to confront him as sentencing starts

BRYAN Kohberger is anticipated to endure demanding impact statements from the families…
Florida family still living with leaks years after the state promised repairs

Florida Family Continues to Endure Leaks Years After State’s Repair Promise

Nearly eight years after the Murray family’s home was hit by Hurricane…
Manhattan bomb plot foiled as feds charge NY man with building, stashing IEDs across city

Feds Thwart Manhattan Bomb Plot: New York Man Charged with Placing IEDs Throughout City

A New York man is facing federal charges after allegedly constructing and…
USC freshman Alijah Arenas out 6-8 months after tearing meniscus

USC Freshman Alijah Arenas Faces 6-8 Month Recovery Due to Meniscus Tear

Alijah Arenas will have to wait to start his college basketball career.…