Mold caused by tenants

[Sam Abe]

We have squatters in our house. They are reporting mold issues after squatting the house due to covid for over a year. For the past year they lived they never reported anything to the extent that due to fear of eviction they are now reporting mold and the property is completely damaged. The cabinets are destroyed from how they lived, the bathroom vanity is destroyed. When they are now reporting the mold issue to us for the first time, clearly the damage doesn't look recent, the property hasnt been cared for long over 1 year at-least. We were not aware of condition inside as they are squatters living for free due to covid until they feared eviction coming up. The condition at the point they are reporting is very bad as all vanities and every single lower kitchen cabinet needs to be replaced. 

Who would be responsible for this? House has a 70K damage with everything inside destroyed. They are reporting us but to be able to take care we need them to leave. Can we justify later the delay in fixing it after we evict them. Would we be asked why we didn't fix mold because its not even feasible to fix without taking 1/2 the house apart. 

[Chris Seveney]

Quote from @Sam Abe:

We have squatters in our house. They are reporting mold issues after squatting the house due to covid for over a year. For the past year they lived they never reported anything to the extent that due to fear of eviction they are now reporting mold and the property is completely damaged. The cabinets are destroyed from how they lived, the bathroom vanity is destroyed. When they are now reporting the mold issue to us for the first time, clearly the damage doesn't look recent, the property hasnt been cared for long over 1 year at-least. We were not aware of condition inside as they are squatters living for free due to covid until they feared eviction coming up. The condition at the point they are reporting is very bad as all vanities and every single lower kitchen cabinet needs to be replaced. 

Who would be responsible for this? House has a 70K damage with everything inside destroyed. They are reporting us but to be able to take care we need them to leave. Can we justify later the delay in fixing it after we evict them. Would we be asked why we didn't fix mold because its not even feasible to fix without taking 1/2 the house apart. 

 Not only do you need an attorney (Which I assume you have), you should also file an insurance claim on the property.