Omaha landlord secures court order to reclaim home from alleged squatter
An Omaha landlord says he feels relieved after police arrested a woman accused of squatting in his home near 39th and Cass streets.
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – An Omaha landlord says he feels relieved after police arrested a woman accused of squatting in his home near 39th and Cass streets.
Connor Lund said the woman had stayed at the property for the past month while claiming ownership. He said she falsified documents to show she had purchased the home last fall.
An Omaha landlord has obtained a court order to reclaim his property near 38th and Cass streets.
Police took the woman into custody around 4 p.m. She was scheduled to appear in court the same day to face several charges related to the case.
These things all come to an end
“At some point, if you feel powerless and like you’re never gonna get your home back, but, you know, I will tell people that these things all come to an end, which it did today,” Lund said. “I chose to pursue criminal charges instead of handling it civilly because criminal activity was happening in the home, along with falsified documents.”
Lund said the home has suffered damage, and he estimates repairs will cost about $100,000. He hopes to prepare the property for new renters by June 1.
False documents, vandalism alleged
Lund said the woman acted as a squatter. Court documents show she presented false paperwork to Omaha Police claiming she purchased the house in October.
The woman was scheduled to appear in civil court to face multiple charges, including theft by deception, but she failed to appear. A judge then issued an order allowing Lund to regain possession of the property.
Lund said he believes up to six people may be living in the home along with dogs and cats. He added that vandalism has occurred since the woman moved in, with repair costs estimated at up to $50,000.
Landlord calls for stronger protections
Lund said the situation highlights a broader issue across the city.
“One of the locksmiths who originally came out when I found out mentioned that this is happening all over the city, from the river to Elkhorn and everywhere in between,” Lund said.
He said current laws fail to adequately protect property owners in such situations.
“There is no representation or laws that protect landlords in these cases. They all seem to favor the tenant,” Lund said. “These incidents can and will continue unless we find a way to stop them. For all I know, once this woman is evicted, she may already have two or three other homes in mind to squat in.”
Lund said he could begin the process of reclaiming the home as early as Tuesday.
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