NYC millionaire couple are left horrified after buying their dream $2M house for them and their Down Syndrome son only to find a SQUATTER who claims he's the caretaker, tries to rent out rooms for $50 per night and has refused to leave for FOUR MONTHS

A New York couple who planned to live out their days in a $2million 'dream' home on Long Island's tony north shore have told of their horror after discovering a squatter refusing to leave the 3,000 square foot property. 

Susana and Joseph Landa, both 68, purchased the house in Little Neck, Long Island, where they planned to enjoy retirement and care for their son Alex, who has Down Syndrome. 

The charming New York suburb is a stone's throw from the waterfront neighborhoods that inspired F. Scott's Fitzgerald's Great Gatsby. 

The Landa family has lived in the area for decades, raising their three children in a larger nearby property. 

They bought the new house in October last year after the death of its long-time owner, an 80-year-old man with no family. 

But they say they have been unable to move in due to Brett Flores, a 'caretaker' who said he'd been living with the previous owner and now deserves to stay. 

Not only is he refusing to move out - he had been renting out the other rooms in the house for $50 a night.  

The $2million home in Little Neck, Long Island, was purchased by the Landa family in October 

Susana and Joseph Landa, both 68, purchased the perfect mansion in Little Neck, Long Island, where they planned to enjoy retirement

The squatter has been identified as Brett Flores, who is claiming that he has every right to stay

'It has become a nightmare, a total nightmare,' Joseph Landa told ABC7.

Four months after making the big purchase, the Landa family are still unable to actually move in. 

Now, they are heading to housing court to try to force Flores out of the home. 

'I wake up and I go to sleep thinking about the same thing, when is this guy going to come out?' Susana said. 

Flores, 32, is claiming that he has every right to be on the property after being hired as a 'caretaker' for the previous owner. 

As a 'caretaker,' Flores was paid $3,000 a week to care for the previous homeowner. 

Not only has Flores taken over the Landa's family home to-be, they are claiming the squatter has also advertised the home online to rent the rooms to other people

The homeowners tried to enter the property alongside an insurance inspector and Flores called the cops on them 

The family hoped the home would be the ideal spot to settle down with their disabled son Alex, and some of their other family also live in the neighborhood 

The Landa family have already had five hearings in civil court and are complaining that the process keeps getting delayed

Unfortunately for the Landa family, squatters who have set up camp at a property for more than 30 days have rights in New York City. 

After 30 days of continuous occupation, squatters can file adverse possession claims. 

'If you have no lease and you're not paying rent, what is you right?' the outraged homeowner Joseph said. 

In the meantime, the Landa family says they are footing the running cost of the house, paying over $2,000 in electricity bills. 

The homeowners tried to enter the property alongside an insurance inspector and Flores called the cops on them.

The family have already had five hearings in civil court and are complaining that the process keeps getting delayed. 

Flores has showed up for court without an attorney and filed for bankruptcy on January 9, 2024, which prevented any legal proceedings from going forward. 

While Flores is living rent-free in the family's dream home, they are paying all of the bills to keep the house up and running.

Joseph Landa said his struggles to evict the squatter have become 'a nightmare, a total nightmare' 

While Flores is living rent free in the family's dream home, they are paying all of the bills to keep the house up and running

Flores has racked up thousands of dollars in utilities, which Joseph and Susana have had to pay.

Susana said Flores has been 'leaving windows open 24 hours' while they are paying the heating bills.  

'It's very crazy, our system is broken,' Susana said. 'I never would imagine we have no rights, no rights at all, nothing, zero.' 

'It makes me feel completely forgotten in this legal system, unfair and not able to do anything,' Joseph said. 

Flores' attorney told ABC7 'no comment.'