A nightmare that lasted eleven months. The lost money amounts to approximately €25,000. And then there's the anger, the desperation, the tears, the disappointment over that failed investment, and the fear of falling for it again. In Cabras, a few days ago, a 42-year-old woman, after three eviction attempts, finally managed to regain possession of her apartment, which had been squatted since last June. A happy ending story that Carlotta Musa, married with three young children, decided to share to warn those who rent out. It all began on October 14, 2024. Carlotta Musa had decided to rent her vacation home until May 31, 2025, under a temporary contract, a way to earn some money during the months when Cabras is free of tourists.
The family who had come forward—an elderly father and mother and a 51-year-old son—had immediately gained Carlotta's trust. She then decided to have them sign the lease, but the first problem immediately arose: "They told me they'd give me the deposit on the day they moved in, and I trusted them and had them sign the contract, which stated I'd receive both the first month's rent and the deposit. Which I never received." The rent payments continued until February. Then, nothing. "In March, when I realized they hadn't paid me the rent, I asked for an explanation and was told there was a problem with the bank." Days passed, but nothing.
"Many excuses, from a bank problem to a health issue that prevented the family from paying the rent," Carlotta says, "but nothing changed until June 1st, the date they were supposed to leave the house. When I showed up to get the keys, they told me they weren't leaving because they hadn't found another place yet." The Carabinieri also arrived on the scene, and then the matter was handed over to a lawyer. The owner of the house had already lost three months' rent, for a total of €1,500. But in June, she also started losing rent from tourists.
"I had the house booked until October 20th, but since it was never vacated for the summer season, I lost €16,000. In the end, I had to cancel all the reservations, with all the inconvenience that entailed. And then I had to shell out the first €2,700 for legal paperwork."
The case then reached court. In September, the judge immediately ruled in favor of the woman and issued an immediate eviction order. However, he also ordered the tenants to pay legal fees, which the woman had advanced. At that point, the lawyer had to contact the bailiff for enforcement.
"This also comes with a fee," explains Carlotta Musa. "The initial attempts, despite my reasons, were in vain. I had to wait until January to get my house back. I barely recognize it." Adding insult to injury: from October 2024 until three days ago, the woman also had to pay all the utilities, as required by law. "I advise all owners who rent during the winter months to make sure who they're dealing with before signing the contract. It's necessary to carefully check their employment status or obtain a bank guarantee. To get my house back, which I bought with so much sacrifice, I spent all my savings. And what does someone who doesn't have a nest egg do? This family could now do the same thing on another property."
