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Washington DC landlord says squatters turned her building into drug haven
Fox News • • nation
Key Points:
- A D.C. property owner, Tatyana Day Velasquez, reports her basement apartment has been occupied by squatters for eight months, turning it into a drug haven with no rent paid and ongoing safety issues.
- Velasquez's attempts to evict the unauthorized occupants have been hampered by D.C. laws requiring court proceedings, with police unable to remove established residents without a court order.
- The legal process is slow and costly, leaving Velasquez responsible for property taxes and damages while facing physical confrontations and limited law enforcement support.
- Experts and neighbors criticize D.C.'s approach to squatting, highlighting systemic issues in property rights enforcement and the impact on neighborhoods, calling for legislative reforms to expedite evictions and strengthen property owner protections.
- Despite a recent eviction and arrest, squatters have returned, and Velasquez's protective order was dismissed due to court errors, underscoring the ongoing challenges small landlords face in the city.
