Short-Term Renter Refused to Leave D.C. Property Led to Nightmare Eviction Battle

According to reports from the Washington Post and D.C.'s ABC 7News, Shadija Romero originally booked a stay in Rochanne Douglas' D.C. rowhouse via Airbnb in late February 2025. The homeowner, 49, said Romero told her she had been forced out of her apartment due to a fire.

Romero paid the $100-per-night fee through Airbnb for the entire 32-day stay, according to the outlets. But that wasn't the end of her time there.

On March 29, the end of the reservation, Douglas claims Romero requested to extend her stay, saying the repairs at her former apartment were required more time. The women reportedly came to an agreement. This time, however, Romero said she would pay Douglas directly, Douglas claims.

However, Romero failed to disclose that she was in the process of being evicted from her other apartment for owing nearly $50,000 in back rent for a prior residence, according to court records reviewed by PEOPLE.

After the initial 30 days, Romero claimed residency at Douglas's home and refused to let her enter the property, Douglas alleges.

"I never gave her any tenancy," Douglas told ABC 7News. "I never gave her a lease."

According to D.C.'s Tenant Bill of Rights, a written lease is not required to establish residency. However, landlords can evict tenants for failing to pay rent after posting a notice to vacate.

Douglas testified in court that Romero "was inconsistent in paying her occupancy charges" during her extended stay, according to a letter written by Associate Judge Carl E. Ross.

"I specifically told her this is why I'm not a landlord because this is the kind of correspondence I don't want to do," Douglas told the Washington Post. "Airbnb is very clear. You book it, they pay you the next day& I didn't want to be in a situation where I had to listen to this every month."

An Airbnb spokesperson tells PEOPLE the dispute between the landlord and the tenant occurred entirely outside the platform.

"This agreement was separate from any prior booking made through Airbnb. No concerns were raised during the stay Ms. Romero made on the platform," they said. "While issues like this are rare, hosts and guests should always communicate, book, and pay on Airbnb, so they're covered by our policies and protections."

They added: "When a booking or payment is made off the platform, we are unable to offer the support of our policies and features."

Douglas further testified that by August, she began sending notices to vacate to Romero, first in August then September and October, Judge Ross states in his letter.

In October, Douglas offered to cut Romero a deal: if she'd agree to leave by Nov. 15 and waive all rights of tenancy, she wouldn't be charged for October or November, according to a "Voluntary Move-Out and Release Agreement" submitted in court. She even offered to pay Romero $2,500 to help her relocate. Romero signed the deal, but then failed to abide by it, Douglas claims.

"November 15th came, and she told me this no longer works for me," Douglas told 7News. "I went to the police with my order, and they say there's nothing that they can do, so I need to go to court, which I've done."

Douglas then installed a large red sign on the front of her home with white letters that reads "Public Notice Unauthorized Occupant." Romero later draped a sheet on top of it to partially cover it.

On Thursday, Dec. 11, Judge Ross ruled that by signing the agreement to vacate, Romero gave up any claim to tenancy, and Douglas could reclaim possession of the property.

According to the Washington Post, by that evening, Douglas had recruited friends and family to help remove Romero's belongings from the house. That night, Romero came by the house and loaded her things into a U-Haul van, per the outlet.

While the homeowner's attorneys, Kamal Nawash and Liz Altayib, were able to help Douglas reclaim her property, they say landlord-tenant laws in the district "need to be revamped."

"D.C. laws are unfair to landlords," they said in a joint statement shared with PEOPLE. "The current system allows tenants to stop paying rent and remain in properties rent-free for extended periods while landlords spend thousands of dollars in legal fees attempting eviction through a tedious and slow court process."

PEOPLE contacted Romero, who represented herself in court, but she did not provide a comment.