A HOMEOWNER faces a bill of at least $25,000 after strangers moved into his home, claimed ownership, and refused to leave for six months.

It comes after he finally regained access and has seen the extent of the damage they and their pit bull caused to his property.

Mark Goodman faces bills of at least $25,000 after squatters ‘destroyed’ his homeCredit: ABC7

Doors were torn off their hinges, dog faeces were scattered around the home along with unwashed dishes and junkCredit: ABC7

Mark Goodman from Thornton, a south suburb of Chicago, fought for months to get a group of strangers out of his home after they spontaneously moved in last December and cops couldn’t help.

Despite doing no wrong, he now faces hefty bills after two doors were torn off their hinges, copper pipes were stolen from the plumbing systems, and a wealth of trash, dog faeces, and junk objects were left behind.

“They left it in an absolute mess,” he told the I-team at ABC affiliate WLS-TV.

“They’ve destroyed the house. It needs at least $25,000. I don’t know how people can actually do this.”

Pointing out the missing copper pipes, he said: “They just ripped it.

“You can see right where they cut it off.”

Instead of being able to celebrate the fact the squatters are gone, Goodman is now scrambling to find the cash to fix the house.

“It’s going to take several months for me to put it on the market,” he added.

SHOCK DISCOVERY

He first discovered the strangers and their dog in his home after finding a tenant to move into the property last year and meeting with them there to drop off the keys.

“I tried to go into the property and found out there were already people living there,” Goodman told the news outlet.

“I’m like, ‘What are you guys doing here? Who are you?’ They said, ‘We bought the house.’ I said, ‘You bought the house?!'”

When he confronted the group, they then changed their story saying they were renting it.

Despite calling the cops, Goodman was told they couldn’t help as it’s a civil dispute which meant the group continued living at his property as a months-long legal battle played out ending in their eviction.

“It’s a horrible feeling,” Goodman said.

“My heart just fell right out of my chest… this is a huge problem and it’s affecting a lot of people.”

He has even issued fellow homeowners a vacation warning as he and others who have found squatters in their home beg officials to take more of a stand.

“The way the law is right now, if any one of us were to go on vacation and someone says they have proof that they live there, a lease, a sales contract that was forged, it’s your word against theirs,” Goodman said.

Now homeowners in Illinois are waiting for Governor JB Pritzker to sign the House and Senate Squatter Bill that passed earlier this year that will give police rights to remove squatters if owners can prove they own the property.

Copper pipes were ripped out of the plumbing system, Goodman saidCredit: ABC7

Bizarre objects and large junk items were left behind for Goodman to deal withCredit: ABC7

Goodman called on the Governor to “sign the law immediately”.

Meanwhile, those who are going away, especially for a long period or time or who own a second property should look at getting house sitters or neighbors who can regularly check in on the home.

This is also the case on properties that are advertised on the market as they can be more at risk.

According to WLS-TV, it could also be beneficial to install security cameras as police can take action if they are given evidence of a break-in.

Goodman is now scrambling to get the money together to repair his home and get it back on the marketCredit: ABC7