Los Angeles Eviction Lawyer Blog

The foreclosure crisis has spawned a new type of fraudster.   In Orange county, a man has been taking control of vacant homes and renting them out.

The fraudster recorded deeds on at least 12 vacant homes that he does not own.  The property records show no transfer of any interest to him in these homes.   The gentlemen uses these deeds, to line up tenants and to placate the police when they are called by neighbors to ousts the new tenants who they believed to be squatters.

His action has pissed off the real homeowner who now must speed thousands of dollars to evict the tenants.

Property records and interviews show Hanloh files “quitclaim” deeds and then takes control of vacant but well-kept houses in upscale neighborhoods like Dana Point, San Clemente and Anaheim Hills. Many have been foreclosed upon, but some were up for short sale and at least one house was still being built and hadn’t been cleared for occupancy.

Quitclaim deeds are typically used when one owner releases his interest in a property, often to facilitate property transfers between family members or to eliminate clouds on a title.

While the tenants lease and prepaid for the rental homes for up to 6 months.  So the renters are refusing to leave the homes and the owners of the property are stuff with a civil nightmare.