Standoff over NYC 'squatter' home: Family hires SECURITY guard previously used by Bill Gates for his daughter Jennifer's wedding to watch over $2 million property where shameless caretaker who drives luxe BMW SUV is holed up

The family who have been barred from their own dream house in NYC by a stubborn squatter have hired a celebrity security guard to watch over the $2 million mansion. 

Susana and Joseph Landa, both 68, bought the stunning Little Neck property, which lies around 18 miles from Manhattan, in October. 

The couple planned to retire in the large three-bed, four-bath home alongside their son Alex, who has down syndrome.

Unfortunately, alleged 'squatter' Brett Flores claims that he 'deserves' to live in the property because he worked as the caretaker for the previous elderly owner, who is now dead.

DailyMail.com visited the Long Island mansion and found that a security guard had been hired by the Landas to watch over their property as Flores continues to live there.

This $2 million 'dream home' bought by an elderly New York City couple has been left derelict and abandoned after it was taken over by a shameless squatter 

Susana and Joseph Landa, both 68, have hired a celebrity security guard to watch over the $2 million mansion after 'squatter' Brett Flores took over their house 

When DailyMail.com visited the property on Thursday night, almost every light was on in the home - the lights in the living room, basement, garage, upstairs area

Jennifer Gates married Nayel Nassa in October 2021, tying the knot in a ceremony in Westchester, New York, that reportedly cost $2 million

The burly security guard declined to give his name but told DailyMail.com ‘I work for the owner of the house. These people are good people, it is a shame what is going on.

‘There’s probably two people [in the house]. It shouldn’t be happening. Whoever made those [squatters’ rights] rules up is smoking some kind of crack.’

The security guard had previously worked for Bill Gates's family had was used at his daughter Jennifer's wedding.  

When DailyMail.com visited the property on Thursday night, almost every light was on in the home - the lights in the living room, basement, garage, upstairs area.

A camera - not one of the cameras from the new owners - appeared to be placed in an upstairs bedroom.

By 7:30 pm, there was still no sign of the squatter, or his SUV BMW with out-of-town license plates.

A man who knew the owner, he called Bernie, did not want to disclose his name, told DailyMail.com that he didn't know the story until he read about it.

He said: 'Jesus Christ - I know that house.'

'It's a beautiful house in a beautiful area.'

'It's unfortunate. People don't want to rent their properties because they are scared of squatters. Speak to any landlord and you will hear the same thing.

'This is no secret. This is the system - and it's been going on since Covid - it really created an opening where they don't have to pay rent.

'It's a shitty situation and a major fear of any landlord.'

He added: 'I'm glad I'm not a landlord.'

Susana (right) and Joseph Landa (left), both 68, purchased the mansion in Little Neck, Long Island in October, where they planned to enjoy retirement before their hopes were dashed 

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

Earlier on Thursday,  Flores, instead remaining inside where we observed furniture covered in dust sheets, with garbage strewn across the floor.

Ten surveillance cameras monitor the property, but it's unclear who placed them there.

Outside, the yard is unkept, with a broken doorbell and a sign warning of an 'alarm system' greeting guests at the front door.

A note purportedly left by Flores on the door of the home told the new owners they 'don't have my consent to enter,' and said their attempts to contact him would be 'interpreted as harassment.'

Despite a winter gale blowing through New York on Thursday, many windows and doors of the empty property were left wide open, as the home appeared to not have been lived in for some time.

Scattered, unfinished white paint has also been left on the home's red front door, alongside a key lock holder that had been ripped from its hinges.

There was no answer when DailyMail.com knocked the door. Flores' lawyer told DailyMail.com that he had no comment to make ahead of a court hearing scheduled for April 18. It is unclear what that hearing will cover.

No locals had anything to say about Flores, with one neighbor whose property backs onto the disputed home's yard saying he'd never even seen him.

Property records indicate the previous owner was Bernard Fernandez, a watch-maker who 'kept himself to himself' and was known by neighbors as 'Bernie.'

When the Landas picked the home to retire in back in October, its location next to family members and in a neighborhood where they lived for decades made it the ideal spot to settle down for good.

The Landas are taking Flores to landlord-tenant court to try and get him evicted, but the court hearing is not until April.

Scattered, unfinished white paint has also been left on the home's red front door, alongside a key lock holder that had been ripped from its hinges

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

'Long story short, he is still there,' Susana said.

Flores had been hired as a caretaker by the home's previous owner, which he argues gives him every right to remain on the property.

Court documents show that Flores, 32, was indeed hired by the former homeowner, and he was paid $3,000 a week to care for the elderly man.

The former homeowner passed away in January 2023, but Flores claimed he has a 'license' to stay in the home granted by the old owner.

When DailyMail.com quizzed neighbors about the former homeowner, they didn't know much about the man, and said he 'kept himself to himself.'

After he described in court documents why he 'deserved' to live for free in the multi-million dollar property, Susana reacted: 'We couldn't believe it, we could not believe it.'

Flores' attorney told DailyMail.com, 'no comment.'

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.

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

The sprawling home is in Little Neck, around 18 miles from Manhattan

The couple have three sons, one of whom has Down Syndrome. They wanted to live with him in the home to remain close to his brothers 

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

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.