A $2 million home purchased by an elderly New York City couple was left abandoned and dilapidated after a shameless squatter took it over.
The large three-bedroom, four-bathroom house in Little Neck, about 18 miles from Manhattan, was intended to be the idyllic retreat for Susana and Joseph Landa, both 68, and their disabled son Alex.
But their dreams were dashed when they discovered in October that the property was occupied by squatter Brett Flores, sparking a months-long fight to evict him that has left them desperate.
After Flores was caught advertising vacant rooms in the mansion, exclusive new images captured by DailyMail.com show the house was deserted, with trash strewn across the floors and sheets of dust covering furniture and windows.
Ten surveillance cameras monitor the property.
A note allegedly left by Flores on the door of the house told the new owners that they “do not have my consent to enter” and that their attempts to contact him would be “interpreted as harassment.”
This $2 million “dream home” purchased by an elderly New York City couple has been left abandoned after it was taken over by a shameless squatter.
After months of fighting to evict the squatter, a note was left on the door telling the new owners that they “do not have consent to enter” and that their attempts to contact the scammer would be “construed as harassment.”
Despite a winter gale that hit New York on Thursday, many windows and doors in the vacant property were left wide open as the house appeared to have been unoccupied for some time.
Scattered, unfinished white paint was also left on the home’s red front door, along with a keyed lock bracket that had been ripped off its hinges.
Months after the property was purchased for millions, it has fallen into disrepair.
Susana (right) and Joseph Landa (left), both 68, bought the mansion in Little Neck, Long Island, in October, where they planned to enjoy their retirement before their hopes were dashed.
The squatter has been identified as Brett Flores, who claims he has every right to stay.
Despite a winter gale that hit New York on Thursday, many windows and doors in the vacant property were left wide open as the house appeared to have been unoccupied for some time.
White paint was also left scattered and unfinished on the home’s red front door, along with a key holder that had been torn off its hinges.
There was no answer when DailyMail.com knocked on the door. Flores’ lawyer told DailyMail.com that he had no comment to make ahead of a court hearing scheduled for April 18. It’s unclear what that hearing will cover.
No one local had anything to say about Flores, and a neighbor whose property overlooks the yard of the disputed home said he had never seen him.
When the Landas chose the house to retire to in October, its location next to family members and in a neighborhood where they lived for decades made it the ideal place to settle permanently.
Proximity to their family was an added benefit as the elderly couple care for their disabled son Alex, who has Down syndrome.
“I just want to know that I can die tomorrow and he is next to his brother,” Susana said of her disabled son.
But after finding Flores squatting in his home, his inability to evict the squatter has become “a nightmare,” Joseph told ABC7.
‘I wake up and go to sleep thinking about the same thing, when is this guy going to come out?’ said Susana, mother of three children.
The entire time they couldn’t move into the house because of Flores, the couple was forced to foot the bill for all the utilities and maintenance to maintain the large property.
While the house has fallen into disrepair as the Landas are still unable to move in, they also claim that Flores was advertising rooms in their future home on rental sites.
In online listings, which appear to have been removed, Flores advertised ‘The Prince Room’ for $50 a night for men, women, couples, families or students looking for a place to stay.
His rental services had even garnered three reviews, suggesting that Flores may have hosted paying tenants at Landa’s home.
The sprawling home is located in Little Neck, about 18 miles from Manhattan.
The exterior of the property has also been equipped with at least a dozen security cameras, including in trees scattered around the estate.
Scattered trash and random splatters of white paint have been left around the multimillion-dollar home.
Not only has Flores taken over the Landas’ future family home, but they claim the squatter has also advertised the house online to rent the rooms to other people.
The family hoped the house would be the ideal place to settle with their disabled son Alex, and some members of their family also live in the neighborhood.
The Landas are taking Flores to landlord-tenant court to try to get him evicted, but the court hearing won’t be until April.
“Simply put, it’s still there,” Susana said.
Flores had been hired as a caretaker by the previous owner of the house, which he claimed gives him every right to remain on the property.
Court documents show Flores, 32, was hired by the home’s former owner and paid $3,000 a week to care for the elderly man.
The former owner died in January 2023, but Flores stated that he has a ‘license’ to remain in the house granted by the former owner.
When DailyMail.com questioned neighbors about the former owner of the house, they didn’t know much about the man and said he “kept to himself.”
After describing in court documents why she “deserved” to live for free in the multimillion-dollar property, Susana reacted: “We couldn’t believe it, we couldn’t believe it.”
Flores’ lawyer told DailyMail.com, “no comment.”
The owners attempted to enter the property along with an insurance inspector and Flores called the police.
The family has already had five hearings in civil court and complains that the process continues to be delayed.
Joseph Landa said his struggles to evict the squatter have become “a nightmare, a total nightmare.”
The Landa family has already had five hearings in civil court and complains that the process continues to be delayed
While Flores lives rent-free in their dream home, they pay all the bills to keep the house running.
Flores appeared in court without an attorney and filed for bankruptcy on January 9, 2024, preventing any legal proceedings from moving forward.
While Flores lives rent-free in their dream home, they pay all the bills to keep the house running.
Flores has accumulated thousands of dollars in utilities, which Joseph and Susana have had to pay.
Susana said Flores has been “leaving the windows open 24 hours a day” while they pay their heating bills.
“It’s crazy, our system is broken,” Susana said. “I never imagined that we have no rights, no rights, nothing, zero.”
“It makes me feel completely forgotten in this legal system, unfair and unable to do anything,” Joseph said.