Premature Change In Locks Leaves Foreclosed Homeowners Locked Out, Pets & Belongings Locked In

In Manteca, California, KXTV News 10 reports:

• Less than two weeks after they lost their home to foreclosure, a Manteca family found themselves locked out with their pets and belongings still inside. Don and Brandi Furtado and their three children had been moving their things out of the house on Nehemiah Drive after the May 28 courthouse auction. When they returned for another load late Friday, they found the locks had been changed.

***

• Lodi attorney Robert Hardwick, who represents other lenders in eviction proceedings, said people living in foreclosed homes have rights as tenants even if they're former owners. "You've got to be careful as a lender because the lender can be subject to lawsuits if they wrongfully evict somebody without going through the proper procedures," he said. [...] A locksmith hired by [the foreclosing lender's agent] came to the house to change the locks again and give a set of keys to the Furtados. He also removed the lockbox from the front door handle.

For the story, see Family Locked Out After Foreclosure Auction (story no longer available online).

Go here for other posts on foreclosure services companies who have improperly change locks, remove belongings, etc. ForeclosureLockOuts