Remove illegal occupants

[Wen Guo]

I have a rental, as when I bought it the addition was unpermitted, I bought it, after 2 years, I removed all the tenants and tried to legalize the addition. While sitting empty waiting for permits, someone went in a few weeks ago and changed the lock. They closed all the curtains and I couldn’t see anything inside, nor getting the access.

What should I do?

Cut off utilities? Ask lock smith to change the lock and move all their belongings to the curb? Report to police?

I talked to police, they said if the occupants established residency, I have to have lawyers to evict them. That means months of legal process and fees.

What do you suggest? Thanks so very much!!!

Wen from Castro Valley California

[Thomas S.]

Go in at night with a few friends and convince them it is to their advantage to move out immediately. Better if you can actually change the locks and move in yourself when they go out. Be prepared to change the locks when you push them out the door. Been there done that.

What we do is go in when they are not there, remove all their personal items and place our own family pictures around the place, change the locks and wait for them to return. When the police show up we show proof of ownership and we are occupying the property.  They have no proof they were ever in the property.