# Rogue California ‘plumber’ hijacks elderly woman’s home — then rents out rooms to strangers

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/rogue-california-plumber-hijacks-elderly-womans-home-then-rents-out-rooms-to-strangers/
- Published: 2026-11-14T22:43:54+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-14T23:25:04+00:00
- Original publisher: New York Post (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://nypost.com/2026/11/14/us-news/san-diego-woman-says-unlicensed-plumber-took-over-home-rented-rooms-to-strangers/
- Topics: Offbeat, Weird & Viral, World

## Key points

- A San Diego woman says a hired plumber took over her home.
- She and her partner were locked out for more than two years.
- Eviction took five more months after ownership paperwork was found.

## Summary

San Diego homeowner Jordy Smith, 76, says a man she hired to repair pipes took over her house while she and her partner were temporarily away, locked them out and rented rooms to strangers. The couple were unable to return for more than two years, and Smith says the home was badly damaged before they eventually sold it.

Smith later learned the man was an unlicensed plumber; police were called to the property repeatedly over suspected drug deals, trespassing and smoke. After the owners found paperwork confirming the property was held in a trust, they listed it for sale and sought help from the Squatter Squad, but eviction took a further five months. The article says California evictions can take up to a year after potentially months of unpaid rent, and Smith is calling for tougher penalties for trespassers.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.