Tenants at Rancho Alvarado Apartments in Las Vegas say they have spent months living alongside people they describe as squatters who moved into vacant units nearby, bringing fights, stolen packages and mail, and a mounting sense of unease to the property. Residents say management has done little to stop it, even as the problems piled up unit by unit.
One tenant, who spoke anonymously, told FOX5 Las Vegas she was repeatedly awakened in the middle of the night by loud groups going in and out of an empty unit near her own. She said the people would leave before management arrived in the morning, only to return again in the evening, and that they often left trash behind. She also said the unit appeared to have electricity, televisions and personal belongings inside, despite being listed as vacant.
Other residents at the complex echoed similar accounts, telling the station they had lived for months with people they describe as squatters taking over vacant units. Tenants reported fights breaking out between people they believe were squatters, along with stolen packages and mail, and growing safety concerns across the property. Residents said they questioned why empty units remained accessible at all and why management had not intervened sooner.
Tenants Say They Feared What Might Happen Next
The anonymous tenant said she believed management needed to act proactively, because residents were afraid of what might happen if the situation continued unchecked. Some tenants told FOX5 Las Vegas that county personnel eventually came to the property and that the people occupying the vacant units were removed, though that account comes from tenants themselves rather than from any confirmed county action. FOX5 emailed county code enforcement and asked it to investigate the property.
Rancho Alvarado, located at 4000 Rancho Alvarado, offers one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments across five floor plans ranging from 580 to 840 square feet, according to the property's own listing site. That same listing puts monthly rents between $820 and $1,380.
Westland Points to Cameras, Gate and Ongoing Police Contact
Westland Real Estate Group, which manages the property, said it is aware of reports regarding unauthorized individuals on the property and said it takes community safety seriously, adding that it has implemented measures within its control to address the issue. The company said it has invested in live-monitoring security cameras and a secured entry gate, and that it secures units with window locks and plywood where necessary.
According to the same report, Westland said all vacant units are currently secured, with doors and windows fully locked and, when necessary, barricaded to prevent unauthorized entry. The company said it is working and has been working with Metro police on the issue, and it called on the city to match its commitment with timely intervention and action.
Utility Shutoff Procedures Under Review
Westland's stated policy is that utilities are shut off as soon as a unit is vacated, but the company said that process is now under review following the reports. The evidence does not establish whether that review has led to any changes or when such changes might take effect.
Westland also said it allows residents to report concerns confidentially to the management office and that such reports are handled securely to protect residents' privacy. The company said concerns are addressed immediately once reported, and it encouraged residents to contact management about this or any other issue, saying it would continue updating residents on safety and proactive measures through standard community communication channels.
Clark County's code enforcement office has said it does not have jurisdictional enforcement authority over rental housing and does not respond to landlord-tenant disputes, according to its own published guidance, leaving unclear which agency, if any, handled the situation tenants described at Rancho Alvarado.
For now, tenants at Rancho Alvarado say they plan to watch closely to see what happens next, with safety concerns and questions about vacant-unit security still hanging over the complex.
