BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Contractors and property owners report that homes reportedly occupied by squatters are left in devastating conditions once they regain control of their properties, claiming extensive damage that costs thousands in repairs.

Leo, a general contractor who requested to be identified only by his nickname due to safety concerns, told Spotlight on Maryland that the suspected squatting he has encountered has skyrocketed over the past few months.

When the client reached out to us, they had given us a date to come in, but then shortly after, the client had advised us we weren’t able to go in,” Leo said. “Unfortunately, the client had advised us that the premise was being occupied by squatters.”

During his interview on Friday with Spotlight on Maryland, the contractor inspected the property to confirm that the safety mechanisms he installed on the East Baltimore City property were still operating correctly.

After he and the property owner regained access to the row house following a months-long eviction court battle that cost thousands, Leo installed advanced locks and plywood over the home’s entryways. The contractor said fixing a property after an alleged squatter vacates or is evicted is “thousands of dollars easily.”

“If I had to put a number on it, you’re at least $5,000 starting, in legal fees, opportunity costs, time lost, stress, different resources you’re going to have to pull in to regain your property and secure it,” Leo said.

Leo’s experience is not isolated.

Spotlight on Maryland reported one week ago about Mike Haskell, a Baltimore County homeowner, who received a call from the contracted buyer of his Windsor Mill home, informing him that an unknown moving truck was in the property’s driveway. Haskell and the prospective buyer were scheduled to meet at the closing table the next morning.

“The person who was in the house said they had been there for about a week,” Haskell said. “They said they had a lease, and the officer basically walked away.”

Haskell negotiated with the occupant on the home’s front porch for a prompt move-out to ensure the property’s sale did not fall through. The male occupant told Haskell and Spotlight on Maryland that he, his female partner, and two children were connected to the property through online social media accounts advertising a one-time fee for keys.

The homeowner paid $3,000 for the family to move out of his house last Wednesday. The male and female occupants confirmed payment via phone to Spotlight on Maryland, saying they had successfully vacated the property.

Haskell sent Spotlight on Maryland a video of his property after the previous occupants moved out. The video showed trash scattered throughout the two-story home, which was listed for over $400,000. During the video tour, Haskell pointed out remnants of pet urine and feces allegedly left by the previous occupants.

They banged out one of the screen panels,” Haskell said in the video. “Trash, food, all over the house. They couldn’t even bother putting it in the trash can?”

Baltimore County police officials said they were unable to provide body-worn camera footage of an incident in Middle River, which occurred hours before Haskell called police after discovering occupants inside his home. The police department cited an active investigation as the basis for the current denial of public records.

Spotlight on Maryland was notified on Sunday about another property reportedly occupied by squatters in the Franklin Square neighborhood of Baltimore City.

After officers from the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) responded two hours later to initial emergency calls regarding an active burglary, they made contact with the property’s occupants.

“I believe you when you say you didn’t break in,” a BPD officer told an alleged female squatter. “But let’s be honest: It doesn’t sound right.”

Responding BPD officers removed two females from the property, whom the property owner told Spotlight on Maryland were unknown and never authorized to access the home. None of the occupants could provide a copy of a lease or validate their presence to the satisfaction of the BPD.

As officers made contact with the female occupants at the back of the property, a male occupant fled through the front door, which the police were not monitoring while clearing the home.

The homeowner claimed that the property sustained over $20,000 in interior damage, including the cost to remove drug paraphernalia allegedly left behind by the previous occupants. Trash and broken glass were visible in the backyard, with the occupants asserting they were not responsible.

Meanwhile, Leo said these incidents share several similarities that necessitate prompt legal and legislative action.

“It affects everybody,” Leo said. “Really, the people it affects the most, I think, tend to get forgotten, are the community and the residents that live in these neighborhoods.”

Follow Gary Collins with Spotlight on Maryland on X. Do you have news tips on this story or others? Send news tips to gmcollins@sbgtv.com.

Spotlight on Maryland is a collaboration between FOX45 News, WJLA in Washington, D.C., and The Baltimore Sun.