Home / Crime and Justice / D.C. Homeowner Recovers Property After Tenant Stays Too Long
D.C. Homeowner Recovers Property After Tenant Stays Too Long
18 Dec
Summary
- A homeowner battled a tenant who overstayed an Airbnb booking.
- The tenant claimed residency after the agreement ended.
- A judge granted repossession of the home on December 11, 2025.
A lengthy dispute between a Washington D.C. homeowner and a short-term renter concluded on December 11, 2025, when a judge granted repossession of the property. The homeowner, Rochanne Douglas, initially booked Shadija Romero via Airbnb for 32 days starting in late February 2025. After the initial period, Romero requested an extension, agreeing to pay Douglas directly, a payment that allegedly went unfulfilled.
Romero subsequently claimed residency in the D.C. rowhouse, despite Douglas asserting no formal tenancy or lease agreement was established. Douglas issued multiple notices to vacate starting in August 2025. An agreement was reached in October for Romero to leave by November 15, with Douglas offering financial assistance, but Romero reportedly failed to honor this deal.
Ultimately, a judge ruled that Romero's signing of the voluntary move-out agreement forfeited any claim to tenancy. By that evening, Douglas, with help from friends and family, had Romero's belongings removed from the home. Legal counsel for the homeowner stated that D.C. landlord-tenant laws require significant reform due to their perceived unfairness to property owners.
