SEATTLE, Wash. — Midnight Friday is when squatters at a Haller Lake house were supposed to vacate before King County Sheriff's deputies remove them from the property.
"You just never know if they’re going to be angry or if they’re going to go and just be a little grumpy. you just never know," said neighbor Evelyn Jarosz.
She and other neighbors pooled thousands of dollars to hire and attorney on behalf of the property owner for an eviction hearing.
Neighbors say they've complained and called 911 on the squatters for more than a year.
"I wish it didn’t because I live right here. I live right here and I have to see it," said Jarosz.
On Monday, an eviction notice was posted at the house North 137th Street and Burke Avenue North.
Joaquin Guana lives at the house with other squatters.
See photos of the home's garbage-filled yard here.
He said he went to the eviction hearing on Friday but arrived too late.
"I showed up a little bit late and she wouldn't hear my case," said Guana.
Even though he hasn't paid rent or the electricity and water bills, he still believes he has a right to live in the house.
"I’m not trying to break the laws I’m trying to stand up for my rights you know," said Guana.
A mound of garbage covers the backyard, and old cars and RVs are parked in the front of the house.
"It's unreasonable what the neighbors are going through out here. We've had multiple break-ins, drug deals," said Maggie Andrews, who lives a few doors down from the house.
Seattle police told us that officers have been called out to the house at least 47 times since January.
SPD said it is aware of the problems at the house and community police officers watch it closely.
The owner of the house said her previous tenant allowed other people to move in without her authorization when they moved out.
"It's scary for my kids to walk down that street past that house," said neighbor Samantha Rich.
According to court documents, the squatters owe $24,000 in rent.
The city said even though the people inside never paid rent, because they established residency here, they can't be removed without a court order.
The Department of Planning and Development said the home is supposed to be vacant and has cited the people for living there. Inspectors have been out and have issued fines for the trash.
"People are afraid to have their windows open to go out in their yard, afraid to have their children outside. This is a war zone," said neighbor Lynn Catlett.
Neighbors have also started a petition on change.org to get the Mayor's attention to change the city's laws on squatters.
The petition states:
"We believe, and request, when non-owner occupants of a property threaten the health and safety of a community through drug activity, excessive trash or garbage accumulation, gross rodent infestation, non-permitted demolition or destruction of the property, or illegal activity requiring multiple police interventions, the City of Seattle should be empowered to:
1) Declare the property ‘Unfit for Habitation” or a Chronic Nuisance’.
2) Take action to Immediately Remove the Offending Non-Owner Occupant(s).
3) Require all property deficiencies be corrected at owner’s expense prior to new occupancy.
4) Return full control of the property to its legal owner(s)."
When we contacted the mayor's office about the situation,a spokesperson sent us this statement:
"Neighbors are understandably upset when squatters move into vacant properties and property owners are either unable or unwilling to undertake the process to remove them. Trespassers can lead to unsightly trash, pest infestations, criminal activity and declining neighborhood property values. This problem tends to crop up especially when properties go into foreclosure and the new responsible party is a financial institution that provides little or no oversight.
The courts make the determination that allows for the eviction and removal of trespassers. And it is the King County Sheriff’s Office who must act on those eviction and removal orders. After an eviction is successfully completed, the City’s Department of Planning and Development often works with property owners to board up points of entry to deter trespassers from re-entering a vacant home. The City also has some resources that can help with removal of trash in the most egregious situations when there may be a threat to public health.
In addition, the Mayor’s Office will review existing city ordinances for opportunities to improve our processes to address these situations. Ultimately it is the property owner, whether a Seattle resident or an interstate bank, that is responsible for upkeep and maintenance of private property. Financial institutions that have undertaken foreclosure actions must step up to these responsibilities."
KIRO
