They buy their dream house but can’t move in because the previous owner’s caretaker refuses to leave: he demands more than $100,000 or he won’t leave.

In a very short period of time, a retired couple goes from euphoria to despair. The fact is that the dream finally realized, the one they had wanted for years, has suddenly turned into a terrifying nightmare, from which they can’t wake up.

After many years of work, the couple made up of Giuseppe and Susana Landa, both 68 years old, have made it realize your greatest ambition: buy the house of your dreams where you can live out your retirement with your disabled child.

The Landas They paid $2 million for the house which has a surface area of ​​just over 280 m2 and is located in the quiet and charming residential neighborhood of Douglaston, Queens, New York.

The place was perfect for their son Alex, who has Down syndrome. He was close to his relatives –especially the other son, older than Alex, which meant that the son could be quickly cared for in case anything happened to the couple.

“I just want to know that I can die tomorrow and… he is next to his brother”explained Susana Landa to ABC 7. This gave her a “deep” tranquility, she added.

The unexpected obstacle

But everything went to waste when he ran into an unexpected obstacle which prevented, until today, six months after the signing of the deed, from The couple can move into their new home.

The obstacle has a first and last name: Brett Flores, a young man of 32 years old, who illegally occupy the property. Flores, who refuses to abandon her, was the caretaker of the house hired by the previous owner.

“We couldn’t believe it, we couldn’t believe it”Susana said, remembering how she felt when they were faced with this situation.

The Landas have filed a complaint but have so far been unable to evict Flores. It happens that man declared bankruptcy and that “protects” him under New York law.

Since then, the Landas and the Flores They had five hearings in the civil courts and have not yet managed to resolve the problem.

Flores’ argument is this had an agreement with the previous owner of the house, Bernie Fernández, who died in January 2023, to continue living in the residence.

The thing is stagnant.

The “outrageous” offer and the squatter’s revenge

But suddenly, the unexpected intruder proposed a way out of the quagmire they found themselves in. If the Landas paid him more 100 thousand dollarsthe man would leave peacefully.

“Indignation“The couple was upset about the squatter’s offer but they didn’t have many other options so they accepted. They were going to give him $100,000 but then the man said that it wasn’t enough. However, they refused to pay him more.

This is how they discovered that Flores is a vengeful squatter. He increased the bills which, even though they could not yet enter the house, the Landas pay regularly; and he caused a sewage flooding.

The couple told it Fox News that Flores had flooded the courtyard allowing a cesspool was clogged, forcing them to tear down a porch and ruin much of the property’s landscaping.

“He really does know the system and how to make do on your own without a lawyer, living rent-free, renting rooms, making money and destroying,” Joseph Landa said.

Serial abuser with his demons

What Landa is referring to is that, according to what they have been able to discover, Flores is a sort of “serial squatter”. The couple said Flores also “had done this before.” Ohio and California homes“.

Meanwhile, while the national media echo the story, a person “close” to Flores, who asked not to reveal his name, said New York Post that the squatter is a “wonderful” man who He is taking care of his sick son.

“The lungs have not fully developed. He is connected to a respirator” he told The Post about Flores’ son.

However, neighbors of the property testified that noor they had seen a child nor a woman in the house, and that also “Flores hasn’t been around much since the previous owner died.”

The next court hearing is scheduled for April. Meanwhile, retirees continue to pay the price. And they don’t know until when.