Airbnb squatters in Durham, North Carolina, are the subject of a court complaint. According to court documents, an Airbnb host filed the complaint after the renters refused to vacate the property without an eviction order.
Airbnb Squatters Cause Problems in Condo
Court documents reveal that the current Airbnb guests agreed to pay the host, Farzana Rahman, $1,900 per month from October 25, 2023, to May 25, 2024, for a stay in a condominium on Chimney Ridge in Durham. However, after May 25, the guests refused to leave the property. Rahman said her cleaning person discovered the squatters were still occupying the condo.
“They answered the door and said, ‘No, we haven’t moved out.’ She (the cleaner) said, ‘Should I come tomorrow?’ And they said, ‘No, don’t come back,'” Rahman explained.
On May 28, Rahman reportedly contacted the Durham Police Department. The department dispatched two officers to the rental property. The officers spoke with a man on the property — not the primary renter or named in the complaint — who refused to vacate.
Rahman also reported that Airbnb would not provide information about the guests. Instead, the rental platform advised her to file a complaint with local authorities to evict the squatters. She has not been able to enter her property to assess damages but reported a strong odor of tobacco and marijuana from inside.
More Than a Headache
As noted in her filing, the situation has hindered Rahman’s ability to host future guests. “I demand to be put in possession of the premises and to recover the total amount listed above and daily rental until the entry of judgment plus interest and reimbursement for court costs,” she wrote.
Rahman, a single parent, shared with the station that the occupants refuse to leave until they receive an eviction order. She believes that the Airbnb squatters are simply trying to get a free stay while they can.
Airbnb’s website cautions that guests staying in a home or apartment for a month or longer could establish tenant rights, potentially protecting them from removal unless a formal eviction process is completed through the court system.
The website states, “These situations are incredibly rare, but if they happen, we’ll work with you to try to resolve the problem with your guest.”
The company also suggests using a formal rental agreement with the guests’ signature/s to set the house rules. However, Airbnb advises owners to check local laws first, as different places may have different regulations.
On evictions, Airbnb’s website states:
“Statutes exist in nearly all jurisdictions that permit landlords to use summary proceedings to evict tenants. A summary proceeding is a judicial proceeding that lets a landlord regain possession of leased property in an expedited fashion. You should contact a landlord-tenant attorney or your local county courts to learn more about eviction laws where you live, as they may affect your ability to evict a guest who overstays a monthly stay.”
