A US couple with plans to settle into a new home in the New York region found themselves facing an unforeseen intruder. The house, bought for two million dollars, came with a startling complication: a stranger occupying a bedroom, and a stubborn refusal to vacate. The situation was first revealed in coverage by Mirror.
The buyers, Susana and Joseph Landa, both 68, moved into a mansion they hoped would provide stability for their son Alex, who has Down syndrome. They intended to create a safe, supportive space in a home that could accommodate their family’s needs. Instead, they encountered Brett Flores, a man who appeared to have been hired by the previous homeowner to oversee the property while the new owners were away and to keep an eye on the residence. According to documents, Flores did not leave when asked and allegedly placed online advertisements offering rooms for rent at the property.
Each morning brought the same uneasy question for Joseph: when would this man depart? The family’s frustration grew as the intruder remained in place, turning a fresh start into a drawn-out ordeal. Neighbors and professionals involved in the case watched as the tension escalated, one side seeking a peaceful exit, the other clinging to a claim of temporary oversight duties that never quite ended in the owners’ favor.
As the dispute dragged on, the couple found themselves back in court repeatedly. They attended at least five hearings, hoping for a decisive ruling that would restore their access and their peace of mind. However, the proceedings were repeatedly postponed because Flores could not secure legal representation. The pattern left the Landa family in limbo, waiting for a resolution while still managing a multi-million-dollar property and the associated ongoing costs.
Financial strain added another layer of stress. Even with the unresolved occupancy issue, the house required ongoing payments — taxes, maintenance, utilities, and security concerns — all of which continued to fall on the new owners. The situation underscored how a high-stakes real estate purchase can become entangled with occupancy disputes that linger well after the closing date and threaten to complicate daily life for families already juggling complex needs.
Residents and legal observers noted how unconventional arrangements sometimes arise when a person connected to the prior owner’s care of the property remains in place after a sale. In this case, the arrangement appears to have spiraled into a contested occupancy that left the new homeowners in a legal limbo and financially obligated to cover the property while not fully in control of it. The ongoing conflict drew attention to the importance of clear agreements about property caretakers and the processes by which occupancy is resolved during transfers of ownership.
Ultimately, the Landa family hoped to restore normalcy in what should have been a fresh chapter. They sought a straightforward path to regain exclusive possession and to direct the use of the home in a way that best supported their son’s needs and the family’s well-being. The evolving story illustrates the delicate balance between property rights, guardianship arrangements, and the responsibilities that come with safeguarding a family’s future in a new residence. The report remains based on the described events and is presented here for context and awareness, with attribution to the original coverage from Mirror.