Neighbors in the Stockdale Estates area of Bakersfield say they are upset and angered over what they describe as a squatting situation involving a vacant home in their neighborhood.
Residents said the situation began about four months ago, when they believe a woman moved into a home that had been vacant. Bakersfield police confirmed the woman says she has a lease to live there, but the family disputes that the lease is valid.
“Well, first of all, no one knew they were squatters. They thought, ‘Oh good, someone is renting out the house,’” a neighbor said. “And then when they found that they were squatters, we’re all very concerned and we all watch out for each other.”
Some of the people who spoke about the situation asked not to have their faces shown, citing concerns for their safety.
“I would think that the police would be concerned about the neighborhood’s safety and also about the value of our homes,” another neighbor said.
Sun Hee Choi, who lives in San Bernardino, said her sister owned the home until she died in August of last year. Choi said the property is now in probate, a court-supervised process that helps determine how a person’s assets are handled after their death. She said her sister left the home to her in a will, but other legal issues still need to be resolved before the process is complete.
“I was in shock, you know. How can they get into the house and they live there? I cannot do anything to kick them out right now. I’m just waiting for the process from the court,” Choi said.
Choi said she has spoken with the Bakersfield Police Department multiple times and was told the woman living in the home claims to have a lease. Choi said police told her the matter is civil and the occupants cannot be removed until the courts resolve the dispute.
Bakersfield police provided a report from the lead investigator stating: “I can confirm BPD has received many calls regarding the tenants causing peace disturbances at the address, but those currently in the home cannot be evicted or removed until the court decides who the legal owner is.”
Local attorney Dennis Beaver said questions over who has the legal right to occupy the home are part of the reason law enforcement has been unable to remove the occupants in this case. Beaver also advised homeowners with vacant properties to make the home look lived in, avoid putting up a for-sale sign, keep the yard maintained, use timers for lights, install a camera doorbell or other surveillance, post a no-trespassing sign, and alert neighbors that the home is vacant and to contact the owner if something happens.
“Squatters love properties that appear empty, that appear vacant. They take it over. If they are there for 30 days or so they become a tenant. Imagine that. You have to evict them. It’s insane,” Beaver said.
Probate cases can sometimes take years to resolve, and neighbors said they hope the court process in this case moves quickly.