A mum has told how her house was taken over by a squatter for five years – and claims she was “abused” of nearly £50,000.
Alexis Cusenza represented herself, while the renegade tenant was given legal aid in the amount of tens of thousands of pounds.
6
Alexis Cusenza at his cottage near Watford Credit: Doug Seeburg
6
Alexis said she needs a lot of repairs done Credit: Doug Seeburg
6
Moisture leaked through the ceiling, meaning it would have to be removed Credit: Doug Seeburg
6
Alexis said she nearly went bankrupt trying to get the house back Credit: Doug Seeburg
Alexis, 51, said her opposing legal team threatened to foot the bill during a hearing in October and she agreed to sign a court order waiving around £30,000 in rent debt.
She even had to pay E.ON an £18,300 energy bill racked up by the squatter to get her keys back, according to a court document seen by The Sun.
Alexis, a mum-of-two, told us: “I was scammed – I didn’t want to sign it but it was the only way I could get my house back.”
She claims the squatter – who was originally a legitimate landlord before refusing to pay rent or bills – could have called on the services of a “top London solicitor”.
“It petrified me and I thought I might lose my whole house because of this. I just have to settle, and unfortunately, the settlement was the electricity bill and me to waive the debt.”
Alexis said the house itself needs work, which will cost her thousands, including a massive damp spot where the ceiling needs to be cut out and replastered.
“There’s cobwebs like you wouldn’t believe… there’s ivy growing everywhere and he’s just tired,” she explained.
“It looks like the Nightmare Before Christmas – and that’s putting it nicely.”
Alexis had to borrow money to pay off her E.ON bill from her father and claims the company agreed over the phone to reduce the bill to just over £7,000 before denying any such conversation ever took place.
RENT PURCHASES
She explained that rent arrears had piled up since 2019 and she was on the verge of becoming homeless while trying to evict the squatter.
Last year, Alexis started renting out her two-bedroom Grade II listed cottage. degree in the village of Aldenham, near Watford, Hertfordshire.
The skin therapist had just had her second child and needed a bigger home, so he started renting one for her and her children nearby.
In the meantime, she covered the mortgage on the cottage by renting.
However, at the beginning of 2019, the tenant began to pay her rent late and then reduced it by £400 a month, before she stopped paying altogether, Alexis claims.
Alexis managed to convince the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to pay her tenant’s monthly housing allowance as part of the dispute – but she continued to make huge losses.
Before she went to court, she claims she was still paying £300 a month on her mortgage as well as her own rent – meaning she had next to no money.
Alexis said: “It ruined my life for five years. My relationship is over. It’s horrible.”
She claims that she served the tenant with several monetary claims, and then a notice on ground 1, in accordance with the Housing Care Act.
If successful, this allows the landlord to repossess the property if they used it as their main home.
It is also understood that the tenant previously filed a 20-part malpractice counterclaim in an effort to obtain compensation and nullify Alexis’ monetary claims.
Alexis struggled to find the funds to pay legal fees while the tenant was granted legal aid, she says.
Their lawyers also managed to find another loophole because the estate agent failed to pay Alexis’ deposit on time when she moved in and even tried to remove Alexis from the rental register, she claims.
Alexis said: “Everything seems to be on the tenant’s side and I haven’t been able to get any help.
“I used all my money to try to fight this.”
The Sun has contacted E.ON for comment.
6
She agreed to waive rent arrears and pay an outstanding energy bill Credit: Doug Seeburg
6
Alexis is glad the ordeal is finally over, but hopes to get something back Credit: Doug Seeburg
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education