From Hosting Guest To Nightmare: After 540 Days Of Rent-Free Living, This Guest Wants Landlord To Pay $100,000

In an unprecedented and controversial legal dispute, a guest who has been living rent-free at a lavish US mansion for a whopping 540 days is now requesting $100,000 in compensation from the landlord.

The case has stirred extensive controversy and raised concerns about tenant rights, property ownership, and the legal system in the United States.

Where Was The Guest Living?

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Airbnb guest had been residing in a fancy Los Angeles property for more than a year and refused to leave unless the landlord paid her a $100,000 moving fee.

Who Rented The US Mansion?

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According to the publication, Elizabeth Hirschhorn rented the property from Aleksandar Jovanovic, a globally renowned periodontist, in September 2021.

As per the court filings, she rented the residence for six months at a rate of $105 per night, with fees totaling $20,793. Her stay, however, expired in April 2022, and she has been living there rent-free ever since. Jovanovic is concerned about the safety of his family.

A judge recently ordered that the squatter remain in the house for as long as she wants.

Jovanovic is having difficulty evicting the tenant because his guest house was not supposed to be rented. He rented the house without obtaining a certificate of occupancy or registering it properly. It also includes an illegally fitted shower in the unit.

How Much Money Is Demanded?

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In an email to the LA Times, Hirschhorn's attorney said that "$100,000 is [Jovanovic's] cheapest way out of the whole ordeal."

Sebastian Rucci, Jovanovic's lawyer, described her as "the tenant from hell."

How Was The Relationship Between The Owner And Tenant?

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Jovanovic told the Los Angeles Times that the early days were good. When their paths crossed, they were greeted with pleasantries and had tea and light talk on the deck that separates the main house and the ADU.

The stress began approximately five months ago, according to the lawsuit, when Hirschhorn claimed her electric blinds had stopped operating. When Jovanovic went in to repair them, he discovered water damage and mould around the sink, which he claimed were absent after her stay.

He offered to pay for her hotel stay for five days, but she declined. He even invited her to stay at his house, but she declined due to an impairment caused by cat dander.

What Was The Claim?

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In a countersuit, she claims he "inappropriately invited" her to move in with him. The tension persisted until the end of her tenure in March 2022. When Jovanovic realised she wasn't going anywhere, he let her stay until April 12 so she could find another place.

"She asked for more time, but I told her it wasn't possible since I had other Airbnb reservations coming up," he stated. Because she refused to move, Jovanovic contacted the city's Department of Building Safety. She subsequently filed a housing investigator complaint, citing wrongful eviction, harassment, and failure to pay her relocation fees.

According to the housing investigator, the unit breached city laws. Jovanovic should also remove his eviction notice until he can demonstrate that the guest house has complied.

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