Admin

A Tale of Tunnels, Toils & A Heap of Trouble

By
Real Estate Agent with Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 UT DRE# 6541633-SA00

A Tale of Tunnels, Toils & A Heap of Trouble

 

A house, already bursting at the seams with more folks than a clown car at a circus performance (total of 27), recently got the attention of local law enforcement. Rather than look for a larger property, the Do-It-Yourselfer residents decided the best solution was to expand the living space themselves and got to work! 

 

• • • 🤡 •  •  •

 

The tenants became like fastidious moles, scooping out dirt well past the foundation above, toward the sidewalk, to create several subterranean bedrooms for those sleeping on the floors at night. They completely ignored applying for building permits or hiring an engineer to ensure structural stability.

 

. . . 🕳 . . . 

 

It turns out that digging underground foundations with zero job experience, doesn't create a safe, living environment. Had the work crew been law abiding as well, their project might have been successful. Several calls to police for domestic disputes and illegal drugs unearthed their unique housing situation.

 

🚨 🚔 🚨 

 

Soon, the feds got involved, realizing that some people inside had immigration paperwork hiccups, the below-ground bedroom extension became the least of their worries. So, in this case, digging a hole isn't just a figure of speech; it was an ill-planned construction project that uncovered a heap of trouble.

 

🕳 ⛏

 

Another reason to leave home construction, especially when increasing the square footage, to the professionals or it ends up creating more problems than expected. If this story sounds too fantastical to be true, look no further than this article:

Total of 19 Arrested after Search of Now Condemned House in Washingon City

 

Posted by

I, Wanda Kubat-Nerdin at Red Rock Real Estate Utah am responsible for my opinions expressed in this blog. Information herein is deemed to be reliable but not guaranteed and may change due to market conditions. Please do not take my pictures or artwork and use them as your own, they are my property and copyrighted.

Member of

Wanda Kubat-Nerdin is a southern Utah REALTOR® assisting buyers and sellers in in the St. George area, Dammeron Valley, Diamond Valley, Veyo, Central, Hurricane, Ivins, La Verkin, Leeds, Santa Clara, and Washington real estate markets.
See my full profile

Red Rock Real Estate
90 E 100 S, St. George, UT 84770

BuynSellUtah.com
Mobile: (435) 632-9374 call or text
Email Me

My Blog Posts

Comments(19)

Show All Comments Sort:
Adam Feinberg
Elegran - Manhattan, NY
NYC Condo, Co-op, and Townhouse Advisor

I own a 1 bed duplex- ground floor and finished cellar space. The cellar space gets a surprising amount of natural light and air- largely due to the fact that their is a finished areaway space/ air shaft just outside - with sliding glass doors downstairs that leads to this small areaway (about 65-70 sq ft of outdoor space- which is a big deal in Manhattan) - and it faces south in a neighborhood with mostly 4 and 5 story buildings on the block. 

My now former next door neighbor has the mirror image apartment. She defaulted on her condo association fees and other costs which added up to more than $400K. After we ultimately foreclosed and got her to leave without needing to undergo eviction proceedings- we determined that there were 7 and sometimes 8 people living in this 1 bed apartment with most living in the cellar space that is underground - which is not a legal living space. It's legally a recreation room. I really wouldn't have cared if she had 1 or even 2 people living in the recreation room- and she didn't owe us anything, but to have 6 or 7 people living down there illegally- it put the entire building at risk.   

May 17, 2025 01:49 PM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

 

Why am I not surprised to read this and the linked article, Miss Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can! 

Paperwork hiccups - such a kind presentation of what is more likely the real issues. Yet, we shall let the courts decide. 

May 17, 2025 02:01 PM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

FEATURED IN CRAP-TACULAR

 

Mr. Crappy Says

What Am I NOT Surprised  

To Read This

💩💩

💩

 

May 17, 2025 02:03 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can! you have to admit that was a creative solution to their space issue.

May 17, 2025 02:41 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Wanda:

That is quite a story of creativity, although perhaps a bit misplaced.

Jeff

May 17, 2025 04:09 PM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.

Properties must be monitored during the life of a lease, otherwise, tenants can cause irreparable damage, Adam Feinberg. One landlord wrote into the lease that he would change the air filter out for the systems ,once a month. It worked because he was able to see for himslef the condition of his properties every 30 days!

May 17, 2025 05:59 PM
Adam Feinberg

Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can! Your right and if this was a lease it would have been easier. This wasn't a tenant situation- it was an owner that didn't pay her Common Charges (similar to HOA fees) and Special Assessments. That owner took in roommates- but it was 6 sometimes 7 of them living in a space that was not legally a living space- and there was nothing that could be done on our end to stop it other than to just continue the foreclosure process. If we reported it to the city- the building would be fined- not the individual unit owner. While the entire legal process took many many years- way too long, surprisingly when we finally took possession the apartment wasn't in terrible condition just wear and tear. 

May 18, 2025 09:04 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.

Was in shock while reading the article, Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist! Twenty-seven people in one house - no that's more what a small motel can handle.

May 17, 2025 06:01 PM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.

THANK YOU for the FEATURE IN CRAP-TACULAR, Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist! Am trying to find out if the owner of the property actually lived in the house too and allowed this or if it was rented out.

Either way, this is outrageous...building living quarters beneath unstable ground!

May 17, 2025 06:03 PM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.

Creative, yes, Dangerous as well? Absolutely, George Souto!

May 17, 2025 06:04 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Wanda - while often difficult, the client selection process is important.  

May 18, 2025 04:22 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Wow, that is quite the interesting scenario, and I am guessing that wherever they were getting away from was pretty bad if they were willing to go to those extremes, haha.

May 18, 2025 05:24 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Oh my gosh, yes, leave construction to professionals!

May 18, 2025 06:44 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Wanda,

Wow!! 27 people in one house trying to live is insane! I can't imagine building living quarters beneath unstable ground, so dangerous. Vetting these tenants is so important and hopefully next time the landlord will do a better job !

May 18, 2025 07:40 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.

Screening tenants is so important or the end results could be devastating. This house is now condemned, Michael Jacobs, because of their efforts!

May 18, 2025 07:43 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.

From the outside, looking in, it appears to be a flop house, Brian England. I've encountered several of those in my lifetime. People sleep in the house at night and the majority are gone during the day. That, in itself, can destroy a home in no time, especially with 27 people living there but they voluntarily speeded up the process!

May 18, 2025 07:47 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.

Am in the process of getting more details but the house is condemned and most likely, it will be torn down, Kat Palmiotti. Sad!

May 18, 2025 07:51 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Good Sunday morning, Wanda. I do believe you've left me speechless with this story... and I know variations on this theme happen more often than we'd like to know.

May 18, 2025 08:00 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.

No more chances for that landlord, the property has been condemned, partly because of the damage caused by the DIYers, Dorie Dillard Austin TX. Oh my!

May 18, 2025 08:06 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.

Unable to fathom the communal, living conditions, Nina Hollander, Broker. Then there's the illegal drugs and other factors that grabbed the attention of law enforcement, both local and federal!

May 18, 2025 08:26 AM