CARLSBAD, Calif. — Neighbors of the so-called hoarder house in Carlsbad say they've tried to help the property owner but she's denied any assistance.
"We are just at our wits end like why can't anyone do anything about this," said neighbor Ryan King.
King and his family have lived in the condo next door for several years.
"We were very friendly with her at first," King said. "Exchanged Christmas gifts. Our kids love to paint so they painted her some things and made her things. Then one day we heard rats scratching on the wall and it was keeping my wife up at night so we had to flip our bed to the other wall," he said.
He says the rats did $3,000 in damage. City inspections confirmed rodent infestations in the woman's home and it being at risk for mold. Since 2022, the City of Carlsbad has given the woman multiple violation notices. They cite the accumulation of trash causing health and safety concerns along with fire hazards. Neighbors have tried to step up and help.
"We said we'll help you. We will pay for it and help clean out your house. It's not safe for her. The water doesn't work and electricity doesn't work that well," King said.
He says they still see her come and go from the property even though the city has deemed it uninhabitable.
"She evades the cops, HOA, the city, and is very smart at what she does to get out of things. We're just at this point. It has been two years," he said.
Last month the city posted a 3-day notice for receivership on her condo. Through a receivership, a judge appoints a third party to take over the property and clean it up. Now King and his family wonder how long the process might take.
"I just want people to know our heart is to help her and the city to know something needs to be done. Like you have residents in danger and you're waiting on paperwork," he said.
WATCH RELATED: City of Carlsbad takes action over infested hoarder house