Yahoo Finance ‘I’m counting on this income’: Single mom in NC faces squatter nightmare after Airbnb guests refuse to leave
A single mom in Durham, N.C. is fighting for repossession of her Airbnb rental property after two guests decided to overstay their welcome and claim they are “legal residents” of the home.
Farzana Rahman is the unlucky owner of the two-bed, two-bath property currently being held hostage by squatters — who took possession of the home after completing and paying for a legitimate seven-month stay, booked via Airbnb.
Don't miss
Commercial real estate has beaten the stock market for 25 years — but only the super rich could buy in. Here's how even ordinary investors can become the landlord of Walmart, Whole Foods or Kroger
Cost-of-living in America is still out of control — use these 3 'real assets' to protect your wealth today, no matter what the US Fed does or says
These 5 magic money moves will boost you up America's net worth ladder in 2024 — and you can complete each step within minutes. Here's how
“They’re refusing to leave until we give an eviction notice,” Rahman told ABC11/WTVD. “I think they’re just trying to gain time to stay there for free.”
After several unsuccessful attempts to get her former guests, now squatters, to leave — including a visit to the property with the police — Rahman was left with no other option than to file a formal eviction notice in court.
“This is my place. I’m counting on this income. My son is in college [and] I’m a single parent,” she said, adding that the eviction process is “wasting my time, it’s wasting my energy [and] it’s stressing me out.”
Here’s what happened — and how you can reap the benefits of rental income without all the stress of being a landlord.
‘We are legal residents’
Presumably seeking the benefits of steady cash flow, Rahman accepted a long-term booking for her Durham rental property from Oct. 25, 2023 through May 24, 2024.
Her guests paid what they owed through the Airbnb platform, but when her cleaner went to the property after the checkout time, the couple had not moved out and they told the cleaner not to return. When Rahman visited the property the next day with the police, she found a hand-written note stuck to the front door.
It read: “No trespassing. We will vacate the property when you have filed the proper paperwork with the civil magistrate for an eviction for we are legal residents of this home. If you try to enter, we will press charges for violation of expectation of privacy.”
First, Rahman reached out to Airbnb for help. The platform advised her to prioritize her personal safety and work with local law enforcement to resolve the issue. When police could not remove the squatters, she initiated the judicial eviction process.
Read more: Car insurance rates have spiked in the US to a stunning $2,150/year — but you can be smarter than that. Here's how you can save yourself as much as $820 annually in minutes (it's 100% free)
Guests who continue to live in a rental property after their lease agreement has expired are deemed holdover tenants. This poses significant risks for landlords, including loss of rental income, property damage and lengthy (and costly) legal disputes. The best course of action to get rid of an obstinate holdover tenant is to begin the eviction process as quickly as possible and with the help of a local attorney.
In North Carolina law, a squatter must occupy a property for a continuous period of 20 years before they can legally create an adverse possession claim.
In Rahman’s case, they’ve only overstayed their welcome by a number of weeks so their efforts to take over the property will likely fail in court — but the longer they stay, the more rights they will slowly develop. An eviction hearing was scheduled for the week of June 13.
Stress-free ways to invest in real estate
If the idea of becoming a landlord and dealing with all the stresses related to that — from managing bookings to fixing appliances and, in Rahman’s case, dealing with unruly tenants — does not appeal to you, there are other ways to invest in real estate and reap the benefits of passive income.
For example, you can invest in a residential real estate investment trust (REIT), which are publicly-traded companies that collect rent from tenants and pass 90% of their income to shareholders in the form of regular dividend payments.
You might also consider crowdfunding platforms, which allow everyday investors to pool their money and finance real estate projects and buy shares of properties or private REITs. All investors then stand to benefit from the rental income that the property produces and capital appreciation. This is thought to be a riskier way of investing in real estate since there's liquidity constraints, no guarantee of any income and not a lot of regulations.
With both types of platforms, you can reinvest the dividend or rental income to increase your holdings and build your wealth, or you can use that income to support your lifestyle and financial goals. Rahman, for example, implied that she relies on her rental income to help fund her son’s college education.
The nice thing about these options is how passive they are for individual investors — especially when compared to being an actual landlord and running a rental property.
What to read next
Rich young Americans have lost confidence in the stock market — and are betting on these assets instead. Get in now for strong long-term tailwinds
Car insurance premiums in America are through the roof — and only getting worse. But 5 minutes could have you paying as little as $29/month
Stop crushing your retirement dreams with wealth-killing costs and headaches — here are 10 'must-haves' when choosing a trading platform (and 1 option that has them all)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
