Learn the eviction procedure for your area, perhaps contact a lawyer in the field to help you with this one, and get the fraudster you're currently housing out on the sidewalk to sleep in a cardboard box where they belong.You're going to lose plenty of money here, but this will never happen to you again, and you can minimize your losses if you move as quickly as possible.

For all you know I could live in a cardboard box.

Bum's don't even sleep in the open, yes there "roof" may be cardboard but point is, EVERYONE needs and wants a roof over there head. 

Never took an hour to remove it or an hour to install it. 1. shut off water supply line(turn handle) 15 seconds2. flush toilet 10 seconds3. vacuum and drain water 2 minutes maybe 4 lay out cardboard(from toilet box) put out trash bag5 remove 5/16 nuts one on each side with hollow shaft nut driver 2 minutes6 pick up toilet and place into bag 2 minutes7 clean up old wax ring from flange and inspect flange 2 minutes8 place wax ring 1 minute9 install new flange bolts 1 minute 10pick up toilet and place on new ring if you didn’t ring right maybe 5 minutes 10 tighten down new bolts 2 minutes 11 cut bolts and install caps 2 minutes 12 reinstall water line 1 minute and turn on 13 flush to check for leaks 14 caulk back of toilet seal if you choose 1 minute15 carry away toilet to truck 10 minutes tops. this a 30 minute job.

Then they ghosted us and told us to figure it out on our own.He "re-leveled" one of our properties with cardboard, used a trashcan as a sump pump, and the list goes on.

Before you commit to building it out of wood and wallboard you could always mock it up using cardboard boxes cut up into sheets with duct tape to hold them together.

If not, then ask that the boxes go in the middle of the room, so that the inspector has access to the walls (also if there is an active leak, the last thing you want is a bunch of cardboard boxes against the wall impeding air flow).An inspector will not move anything for the inspection and they will miss things because nothing is 100% no matter who does it. 

I've been doing construction and rehab on houses long enough that I have seen the bifold closet doors go from solid wood frame and stiles and hollow core luan-type plywood panels to cardboard frames and stiles and paper overlays.

I'm so confused now.One of my fears is that I will wind up homeless living in the Bay Area while I own 3 properties here (including my primary residence) with lots of equity (the multi-unit is co-owned with family) - I was half joking and half serious when I said to my friend that I'll be on the side of the street with a cardboard sign with my cat.

Can I leave empty cardboards and some wood in the basement?