DC landlord battles squatters who turned basement into drug hub

In Columbia Heights, Washington, D.C., landlord Tatyana Day Velasquez reports that her basement apartment has been overtaken by squatters who use the space for drug dealing, leaving behind needles, Narcan and weapons. The occupants, who do not pay rent, have been living there for about eight months, prompting Velasquez to file a lawsuit in D.C. Superior Court to reclaim the unit. Police records indicate that one individual was deemed to have "established residency," so authorities treated the dispute as a landlord-tenant matter and made no arrests.

Under D.C. law, owners cannot evict occupants directly and must rely on a lengthy court process, while the Office of the Tenant Advocate requires occupants to be given a chance to contest the claim. Velasquez says she continues to confront the squatters daily, receiving little assistance from police, and has faced physical assaults. Experts cite COVID-era eviction moratoriums and lax enforcement as factors fueling such squatting problems, urging legislative changes to restore owners’ rights.