(NewsNation) — A single mother in North Carolina is at a loss after she says Airbnb guests overstayed their welcome and claimed the rental home for their own.
Farzana Rahman, of Durham, originally agreed to let several Airbnb guests rent her condo from Oct. 25 to May 24.
When that rental period ended and a housekeeper showed up to clear the unit, they were met with resistance. The guests were still there and refused to leave, the New York Post reported.
The guests hung a sign on the door that read: “We will vacate the property when you filed the proper paperwork with the civil magistrate for an eviction, for we are legal residents of this home.”
Squatters’ rights, also known as adverse possession, is a legal principle that protects a person’s right to live somewhere unless evicted through legal process.
Establishing squatters’ rights varies state by state, but many allow squatters to claim residence after 30 days of living at the address.
Airbnb’s website warns long-term hosts about the potential of squatters’ rights claims.
“In most states and localities in the United States, guests who stay in a home or apartment for one month or longer — the exact number of days depends on jurisdiction — may establish rights as a tenant. Generally, this means that local tenancy laws could protect them, and you may not be able to remove them from your property without proceeding through required eviction processes in court,” the guidelines read.
Losing the Airbnb’s profit is a devastating blow for Rahman.
“This is my place, and I mean, I’m counting on this income,” Rahman told ABC. “My son is in college. I’m a single parent.”
Rahman told multiple outlets that Airbnb has been of little help during the process, despite Airbnb’s host guidelines reading: “These (squatting) situations are incredibly rare, but if they happen, we’ll work with you to try and help resolve the problem with your guest.”
According to the Daily Mail, Rahman’s home was available to rent for a minimum of 28 days for a total price of $2,684.
Now, she has to wait for any legal proceedings to finish before she has a chance at renting it again.