Squatters who failed to pay NY mortgage shell out $700K for Florida home: records

Metro

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By Georgett Roberts and Kathianne Boniello

A pair of allegedly racist squatters who went years without paying their mortgage — then cried poverty and refused to leave their Long Island home when it was auctioned off — paid $700,000 cash for a new Florida abode, records reveal.

Barry and Barbara Pollack, both 72, plunked down the cash for a two-bedroom, two-bath spread in an over-55 community in Boynton Beach in January, property records show.

The 1,782-square-foot home includes a two-car garage, walk-in closets, new porcelain tile floors and a new washer dryer, according to the listing on Zillow.

The purchase was revealed in a new lawsuit filed against the couple by the family who battled for nearly two years to get them out of a Nassau County split-level.

The Chawlas say they spent more than $200,000 on the mortgage, taxes, insurance and legal fees as they waited for the Pollacks to exit the 1,536-square-foot house Jericho, which was finally vacated in January, leaving behind a smelly mess.

They also shelled out for movers, repairs and garbage removal costs, they contend in the Nassau Supreme Court lawsuit.

“We feel he should be held accountable for his actions. He should not be able to go on without any repercussions,” said Bobby Chawla.

“It cost us a lot of money that we did not prepare for or anticipate to spend. Then to find out he bought a house cash, this was the ultimate scam. He stole from us. We hope to see justice for ourselves as well as a change to the justice system to help landlords who are trying to make a better life for themselves and their families.” 

“They were unable to get into the property all these years, and now they’re trying to seek compensation on what they lost trying to get these people out,” said Heath Berger, an attorney for the Chawlas.

Barry Pollack was once caught on video telling Bobby Chawla, whose parents are from India, to “go back to Pakistan.”

The Pollacks bought their New York house in September 1990 for $255,000, but 16 years later fell into financial trouble, and wound up fighting in three different courts for 17 years to stay.

The home ended up in a bank auction after the couple was sued for foreclosure in 2008 and dragged the case out for 11 years, records show, with one lawyer describing them as “shrewd and devious” litigants.

They then allegedly filed “skeleton” and “frivolous” bankruptcies, which automatically pause any eviction proceeding, records showed, and were barred from filing any further in bankruptcy court.

Barry Pollack declined comment on the new lawsuit.