Via NORTH TEXAS (CBS11) – A North Texas couple called “serial squatters” owe local homeowners tens of thousands of dollars.
Kristine Reddick was trying to find the perfect family to rent her late father’s home. She thought Heather and William Eric Schwab were it. “I spent two hours with them,” said Reddick. “And that’s how important it was. It’s not like ‘here’s your keys, c’mon in.'”
William and Heather Schwab – accused “Serial Squatters”
Reddick is a realtor and relocation expert who regularly runs background and credit checks. She said everything on the Schwabs’ application checked out, from salary to rental history.
Right away, the rent check bounced and the excuses started.
She started the eviction process and five months after they moved in, the Schwabs were forced out. “There was stuff everywhere, they had smoked in the house, my pool was now a Mountain Dew green.” The Schwabs still owe Reddick more than $7,325 as part of the court judgment.
Tarrant County court records show William and Heather were evicted at least 14 times before moving into Reddick’s home.
Former landlords said they use fake information to move in with their children and pets, then work the system as long as possible without paying.
Two evictions later, the Schwabs moved into Dustin and Arlene Harrison’s home in Carrollton.
The first check bounced, but Dustin said he kept covering the rent to give the Schwabs time to pay.
The Harrisons tried to evict the Schwabs themselves but soon learned their renters knew the law better than most. “I said, ‘these people know more than we do’ so I contacted an attorney.”
That attorney was with Marc Girling’s law firm. “I like to call them serial squatters — that’s what they do.”
Seven months after they moved in, the Schwabs were evicted, but the damage was done. “We were 780, now we’re 530,” said Dustin, referencing their credit scores.
Jeff Sprigg, an attorney is familiar with the Schwabs because he had helped evict them before.
“The Schwabs like to game the system!” said Sprigg. “They know who to look for, they know who their victims are going to be.”
CBS11 contacted the Schwabs multiple times requesting an interview or statement, but did not receive a response.
