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Airbnb Host Faces Eviction Battle in Washington, D.C. Over Squatter Claim

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  //house-home.news-articles.net/content/2025/12/1 .. attle-in-washington-d-c-over-squatter-claim.html
  Published in House and Home on Sunday, December 14th 2025 at 2:35 GMT by news4sanantonio

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Airbnb’s “Squatter Home” Scandal: How Washington D.C.’s Housing Laws Are Being Tested

A viral post that surfaced on social media in early October has thrust the city of Washington, D.C., into the national spotlight for a clash between a home‑sharing platform, a tenant‑rights activist, and a local rental company. The story centers on an Airbnb host named Shadija Romero, who reportedly found a “squatter” living in her property, prompting a frantic scramble to serve an eviction notice while simultaneously navigating a web of federal, state, and local housing statutes. The incident, which began in a modest duplex in the Mount Vernon neighborhood, has since become a case study in how the city’s “Fair Housing Act” and its own local regulations intersect with the ever‑expanding short‑term rental market.

1. The Incident at a Glance

According to the article on News4SanAntonio.com (which syndicates national coverage from a number of local outlets), Romero had been listing her home on Airbnb for two years without incident. On September 21, a guest named Rochaonne Douglas—who was not part of the original booking—took over the apartment, claiming it was “their” home. Romero, who had never met Douglas, immediately realized that the person had moved in illegally, effectively “squatting” on her property.

The situation escalated when Romero reached out to Douglas’ rental company—a small firm that, according to the article, had a written lease agreement with Romero that required the property to remain vacant for short‑term stays. In an email exchange, the rental company stated that Douglas had violated the lease and that the property should be vacated within 72 hours. The company sent a formal eviction notice to Douglas, but Douglas refused to leave, citing a claim that the property was “rightfully hers” and that she was entitled to “tenant protections” under D.C. law.

The story caught the attention of a local news outlet, 7News, which published a follow‑up piece titled “Airbnb Squatter Home: Homeowner vs. Tenant Rights.” That article, linked within the News4SanAntonio story, expands on the legal context, detailing D.C. statutes that protect squatters in certain circumstances and explaining how homeowners can legally evict non‑authorized occupants.

2. D.C.’s Housing Law Landscape

The heart of the dispute lies in D.C.’s unique approach to housing protection. While the federal Fair Housing Act offers broad protections against discrimination, D.C. has its own layers of regulation aimed at protecting “tenant rights” and preventing “squatters” from gaining unlawful occupancy.

• Section 4-402 of the D.C. Code requires landlords to provide tenants with a 30‑day notice before terminating a tenancy, even in the case of squatters who have taken residence for more than a month. The law also stipulates that a property owner must file a Notice of Intent to Evict with the District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General if a squatter refuses to leave.

• The “Fair Housing” Ordinance (D.C. Code § 5‑102) expressly protects occupants who claim residency rights. Even a squatter can qualify as a tenant if they have lived in the property for a continuous period of at least one month, provided they have not engaged in any criminal activity. This means that homeowners must go through formal legal channels—filing an eviction case in the D.C. Housing Court—rather than simply asking the occupant to leave.

The article also references a policy brief from the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) that outlines the steps owners should take when dealing with unlawful occupants. The brief emphasizes that homeowners must serve a “Notice to Vacate” and, if the occupant does not comply, file an eviction complaint. It also notes that owners cannot self‑evict or forcibly remove occupants without a court order, a fact that has caused confusion among many new Airbnb hosts who are unfamiliar with the legal framework.

3. The Role of Airbnb and the Rental Company

Airbnb’s policy on “squatting” or “unlawful occupancy” has come under scrutiny. In a separate link within the article, the writer cites Airbnb’s own Help Center article titled “What to do if someone is staying in your home without permission.” Airbnb advises hosts to:

1. Contact the occupant and request they leave immediately.
2. Report the issue to Airbnb and provide evidence (e.g., photographs, communication logs).
3. Seek local law enforcement if the occupant refuses to leave.
4. Follow local eviction procedures if the occupant continues to occupy the property.

In Romero’s case, she had followed steps 1 and 2, but the rental company—Douglas Rental Services, LLC—was slow to act. The article quotes a spokesperson from the rental company who said, “We are in the process of verifying the lease agreement, but we do not have the legal authority to serve an eviction on behalf of the owner.” This lack of clarity left Romero in a precarious position, as she was unable to guarantee that the property would be vacated in a timely manner.

The conflict reached a turning point when Rochaonne Douglas threatened to file a lawsuit against Romero for “retaliation.” The article’s legal analyst segment explains that while Douglas may have a right to a formal eviction process, her threat to sue for retaliation is unlikely to hold, given the lack of any evidence that Romero was actually harassing her.

4. The Viral Washington Spokesperson Response

One of the most eye‑catching moments of the story was the reaction of a Washington D.C. spokesperson—identified in the article as Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Housing and Community Development liaison, Gabrielle Ortiz—who posted a video on the city’s official Instagram account. Ortiz addressed the situation head‑on, clarifying that the city would “enforce the law, but also protect the rights of tenants, including those who may be squatting.”

In the video, Ortiz said:

“The District has strong laws in place to protect tenants and residents. If someone occupies your property without permission, you must follow the proper legal process to evict them. However, the city also has mechanisms to ensure that no occupant is removed without due process.”

Ortiz further explained that the city’s Office of the Attorney General would be investigating whether Romero’s eviction notice complied with all statutory requirements. She urged homeowners to work closely with their attorneys and local agencies to avoid potential legal pitfalls.

The spokesperson’s response quickly went viral, garnering more than 50,000 views on Instagram and generating a flurry of comments from both Airbnb hosts and tenant‑rights advocates. The video has since become a reference point in many policy discussions about the short‑term rental market in D.C.

5. Wider Implications for the Airbnb Community

The article frames Romero’s incident as a microcosm of the challenges facing the burgeoning short‑term rental industry in Washington, D.C. With more than 12,000 Airbnb listings in the city, the risk of “squatter” situations—especially during the peak tourist season—has increased. The article references several other cases reported by local media, such as the “Baltimore Airbnb Squatter” story, where a host in Baltimore had to go through a protracted court case to remove an occupant who had claimed tenancy rights.

The piece also highlights the role of local governments in regulating short‑term rentals. In D.C., the “Short‑Term Rental Ordinance (SRO)” requires hosts to register their properties and obtain a permit, as well as to provide proof of insurance and comply with zoning regulations. However, the SRO does not specifically address the issue of occupants who take over a property without authorization.

The article concludes by calling for clearer guidelines that:

1. Clarify the definition of “tenant” in the context of short‑term rentals.
2. Establish a standardized eviction process for Airbnb hosts.
3. Provide support resources for hosts dealing with illegal occupancy.

6. Final Takeaway

Shadija Romero’s ordeal has exposed a gap between the fast‑paced world of Airbnb and the rigorous legal protections that D.C. offers to residents. While the city’s spokespersons are committed to enforcing the law, the case underlines the need for homeowners to be better informed about the legal steps required to evict an unlawful occupant. For the Airbnb community, the lesson is clear: compliance with local housing statutes isn’t just a regulatory formality—it’s a necessary safeguard against the very real risk of “squatter homes.” As D.C. continues to balance the economic benefits of short‑term rentals with the rights of its residents, the outcome of this case will likely shape policy decisions for years to come.