A single mother from North Carolina has said her Airbnb was taken over by squatters, who posted a “no trespassing” sign and demanded an eviction order.
Farzana Rahman, a condo owner in Durham, said she has lost months of income and is struggling to put her son through college after guests refuse to leave.
The unidentified squatters registered on October 25, 2023 and were due to leave on May 24.
But when Rahman’s cleaners arrived at the property after the deal ended, they discovered that the “tenants” had never left.
The house is available to rent for a minimum of 28 days at the price of $2,684.
Durham condo owner Farzana Rahman has lost months of income and is struggling to put her son through college after guests refused to leave the apartment.
The squatters put up a “no entry” sign and demanded an eviction order
‘They opened the door and said, “No, we haven’t moved in.”
She (the cleaner) said, “Should I come tomorrow?” And they said, “No, don’t come back.”
‘Now they refuse to leave until there is an eviction order. I think they are just trying to buy time to stay there for free because they haven’t paid.
‘This is my place, and I mean, I have this income; My son is in the university. “I’m a single father,” said the distraught owner. ABC.
Rahman also contacted Airbnb for help, but to no avail. He claims that the company has only sent him messages to get help for his safety and legal help to evict the squatters.
According to Airbnb’s website, “guests who stay in a home or apartment for a month or more (the exact number of days depends on the state) can establish rights as tenants” and are therefore protected by rental laws. premises rental.
When Rahman arrived at the property with officers, the squatters assured them they would leave the next day.
But the next morning, they were still occupying the condo and had posted a “no trespassing” sign in its place.
The sign read: “We will vacate the property when you file proper paperwork with the civil magistrate for an eviction as we are legal residents of this house.”
Rahman also contacted Airbnb for help, but to no avail. He claims that the company has only sent him messages to get help for his safety and legal help to evict the squatters.
According to Airbnb website“guests who stay in a house or apartment for a month or more (the exact number of days depends on the state) can establish rights as tenants” and are therefore protected by local rental laws.
It also advises landlords to seek summary proceedings to evict illegal guests.
‘There are statutes in almost all jurisdictions that allow landlords to use summary procedures to evict tenants. A summary proceeding is a judicial proceeding that allows the landlord to recover possession of the leased property on an expedited basis.
“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 an overstaying guest. duration of your monthly stay,” the page reads.