Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Jill Sperling

Trailer Trashed

WATCH: Merritt-area mobile home left in disarray after squatting tenants forced to leave

Sep 22, 2020 | 5:42 PM

MERRITT, B.C. — Garbage, uneaten food and children’s toys litter the yard of a mobile home near Mamette Lake. Inside, the floor is covered in a layer of filth.

The home was sold earlier this year by owner Julie Vankoll. However, the purchaser had been unable to make the payments and the sale had failed. Despite this, Vankoll says the home had been fraudulently rented out.

“This person came, broke into the home with a full move-in and children,” Vankoll said. “So, I showed up on the day that she moved in and said, ‘What are you doing in my home?’ and she said, ‘Oh, I rented it, I rented it,’ and I said, ‘Well, we have a big problem because it’s my home and it’s not for rent or for sale and you have to leave because I have resold it to somebody else.'”

The tenants did not leave.

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“The police would not do anything, they claimed it was a civil matter and would not get involved, although the police were here for different incidents over the course of the last five months,” Vankoll said.

Vankoll filed a Notice of Civil Claim against Kim Ost in July, requesting possession of the home. On September 11, the Supreme Court of British Columbia granted her that order.

“She was ordered to leave, which she did,” Vankoll said. “She had five days. She was not prepared, she honestly thought that she was going to be able to stay here. She was accusing me of fraud.”

The home is now in a poor state.

“There were items stolen, there are items missing, items stolen. But, pretty much everything in the house needs to be redone.”

Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

Garbage is strewn across the floor, kitchen cupboards have been torn apart and appliances have been placed outside. “The sad thing is the children having to live in this environment,” Vankoll said.

Vankoll had planned to sell the home for $25,000, but she expects repairs will cost about that much. She plans to give the home away for free to the new owner.