Airbnb hosts have seen an increase in squatters, many having to hire lawyers and pay large fees to remove tenants from their units. ; Credit: Chris Weeks/Getty Images
A recent case in Palm Springs is proving to be a learning opportunity for people renting out rooms or vacation homes on Airbnb.
Cory Tschogl rented out her home to a man for 44 days, but he stopped paying after 30 days and refused to leave the 39-year-old's rental unit. Under California renter's rights laws, the man is legally allowed to live there until the issue is resolved in court.
In response to this case, Airbnb is currently reviewing its policies. Airbnb spokesman Nick Pappas provided AirTalk with the following statement:
“Officials from our team have contacted this host and she has been paid the full cost of the reservation and we're working with her to provide additional legal support as we move forward. We're also reviewing our procedures and making changes to our platform to give hosts more information about long-term reservations.”
How can Airbnb rental unit owners avoid falling into this trap? What does California law actually state about squatters? Should Airbnb have to do more to assist their users with these issues?
Guest:
Ken Carlson, an Idyllwild-based attorney who has specialized in landlord tenant law for 34 years.