Rants and Gems #160 How a Short-Term Rental Turned Into a Squatter Nightmare in D.C.

A D.C. homeowner rented her property for what was supposed to be a short-term stay — and ended up locked out of her own home.

In this video, we break down the full saga involving homeowner Rochanne Douglas and occupant Shadija Romero, after a D.C. judge ruled that Romero does not have tenancy rights and upheld the agreement requiring her to leave the property.

According to reports, a local D.C. law grants full tenant rights after just 30 days of occupancy. Douglas alleges that this loophole was exploited, allowing the occupant to remain in the home for months without paying rent — while the homeowner continued covering the mortgage, utilities, and mounting legal fees.

We cover:

• How a short-term rental turned into a months-long legal battle
• The 30-day rule and how tenant rights are triggered in D.C.
• The homeowner’s eviction attempts and emergency court hearings
• Allegations surrounding social media posts showing travel while the dispute was ongoing
• The final court ruling and Romero’s statement to 7News confirming she would be leaving

This case has reignited a heated debate around tenant rights vs homeowner protections, short-term rentals, and whether current housing laws are being abused.

Do you side with the homeowner or the occupant — and why?

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