A homeowner is fighting a major legal battle after a squatter took over a house she rented out through Airbnb in Washington, D.C.
According to ABC 7 News, Rochanne Douglas, the owner of the property, told the outlet that the squatter, identified as Shadija Romero, rented out the Airbnb for 32 days in February and has refused to leave the property, months after her Airbnb rental expired. The outlet noted that the squatter reserved the property through Airbnb and claimed that she needed a place to stay while her home was being repaired after a fire.
ABC 7 News reported that while Romero’s Airbnb reservation ended on March 29, the squatter continues to live at the property and has claimed tenants’ rights by claiming residency after staying at the home for a period of over 30 days. “I never gave her any tenancy,” Douglas told ABC 7. “I never gave her a lease.”
According to ABC 7 News, Douglas gave Romero a 30-day notice to vacate the property, contacted the police, and offered Romero $2,500 to sign a paper admitting that she is not a tenant at the property. The outlet noted that while Romero signed the paper, she still remains at the property.
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“November 15th came, and she told me this no longer works for me,” Douglas said. “Do what you have to do. I’m not leaving. I went to the police with my order, and they say there’s nothing that they can do, so I need to go to court, which I’ve done, and I do not have a court date until December 11th.”
ABC 7 reported that Douglas put a sign on the property to notify police officials and local community members that Romero is not authorized to be at the house. In response, Romero and other individuals in the house hung a sheet outside the window to cover the sign.
In a video on X, formerly Twitter, an ABC 7 News reporter noted that Child Protective Services recently showed up at the property after Douglas brought her daughter into the house while there was no power or electricity at the property. The reporter also claimed that she observed what appeared to be an essential oil and candle business inside the house.
According to ABC 7 News, an emergency virtual hearing revealed that Romero tried to push Douglas off a ladder, took the property’s utilities out of the homeowner’s name, and tampered with cameras. During the hearing, a judge ordered Douglas to restore electricity to the home ahead of the upcoming court date to determine whether Romero is allowed to remain at the property.
