Rochanne Douglas believed she was doing the right thing when she accepted a 32-day Airbnb reservation in February. Months later, she says she was locked out of her own home — while still paying the mortgage and racking up legal bills for a property she couldn’t even access.
“This is taking me somewhere where I’m not trying to be,” Douglas told 7News in Washington, D.C. “Everybody has a breaking point (1).”
On Thursday, a D.C. judge ruled in Douglas’s favor, finding that Shadija Romero — the woman occupying the home — has no tenancy rights and can be removed immediately. The judge also held that an agreement Romero previously signed, acknowledging she was not a tenant, remains valid.
The ruling stands out in a city where tenant protections have long been considered strong. But the case has also reignited criticism of what some call a loophole: in D.C. and other jurisdictions, staying in a home for around 30 days can sometimes be used to argue for tenant rights, even without a lease.
A pattern of non-payment
Douglas’s dispute began when Romero booked Douglas’s furnished home on Airbnb, reportedly saying her own apartment had been damaged in a fire. Douglas later learned that, at the time of the booking, Romero was already facing eviction elsewhere and was accused of owing nearly $50,000 in back rent (2).
Court records reviewed by 7News described a broader history. Romero had faced eviction from at least two other D.C. properties before arriving at Douglas’s home. At one complex, she allegedly owed $35,000 in unpaid rent. At another, she paid one month’s rent and remained for 13 months.
“She knows what she’s doing,” real estate attorney Rich Bianco told 7News after reviewing the records. “This isn’t the first rodeo.”
When asked on camera about the eviction records, Romero denied ever being evicted. But in court Thursday — under oath and warned about perjury — she said she “does not recall” whether she was evicted.
After the 32-day Airbnb stay ended in March, Romero refused to leave. Douglas alleges Romero changed the locks, put utilities in her daughter’s name, removed Douglas’s personal belongings, and tampered with security cameras. Douglas says she offered $2,500 for Romero to sign a document stating she wasn’t a tenant and move out. Romero signed, Douglas says, but did not leave (3).
The cost of fighting back
Douglas told 7News the financial pressure became unsustainable.
“If the judge doesn’t give me some relief, I’m going to lose my property,” she said before Thursday’s ruling. “I can’t pay $4,000 a month, my other bills, and my responsibilities like this.”
Her experience reflects a broader complaint among some homeowners: laws built to protect legitimate tenants can be exploited by people who use delays and legal ambiguity to stay in a property.
Housing experts say eviction-related legal fees can range from $1,500 to $5,000. Repairs and cleanup can exceed $10,000, and lost rental income during prolonged court disputes can severely strain an owner’s finances (4).
States are changing laws
The D.C. case comes as several states move to tighten rules around squatting and overstays.
In March 2024, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 621, which allows property owners to submit a form and have sheriffs remove alleged squatters immediately, without a court process. The law also makes it a felony to forge lease documents or cause more than $1,000 in property damage while squatting.
“We are putting an end to the squatters scam in Florida,” DeSantis said at the signing. “While other states are siding with the squatters, we are protecting property owners (5).”
Georgia followed with its Squatter Reform Act in April 2024, requiring accused squatters to produce proof of legal residency within three days or face arrest (6). New York changed its property law in April 2024 to clarify that squatters are not considered tenants on any timeframe. Alabama, Kentucky, Illinois, and Texas have all passed or advanced similar legislation in 2024 and 2025 (7).
What D.C. homeowners should know
Douglas’s case has drawn attention from local officials, including D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson.
“I’ve seen some of the reports,” Mendelson told 7News. “I think it’s pretty shocking what they’ve revealed [8].”
For homeowners considering short-term rentals, experts often recommend precautions such as:
- Screening guests carefully, even on platforms that provide verification
- Keeping bookings under 30 days when possible, since that’s commonly cited as a threshold in disputes
- Documenting communications, property condition, and booking terms
- Understanding local tenant and eviction laws, which vary widely
- Acting quickly if a guest overstays, since delays can complicate enforcement
Airbnb told 7News it has been tracking the case and said its platform has protections for hosts.
A bigger debate
For Douglas, Thursday’s ruling ends what she described as a 10-month ordeal. But the public reaction has fueled a wider argument about housing law: how to protect vulnerable renters without leaving room for abuse.
“I never gave her any tenancy,” Douglas said. “I never gave her a lease.”
This time, the judge agreed.
