Serial squatters have become a huge problem in the Airbnb world as they exploit the legal loopholes allowing them to stay in residence without paying, putting undue legal battles, expense and, quite frankly, a long-term nightmare on the homeowners.
One such case has finally ended on a positive note. Serial squatters Roberto Arcadu and his family have been forcibly evicted from a $1 million Nebraska home, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The family, who had been occupying a $10,000-a-month rental in Papillon, Nebraska, were removed after the homeowner, Liz McIlree, resorted to changing the locks, indicating the frustration and limitations property owners face in such situations.
McIlree’s ordeal with Arcadu, who has a history of similar accusations over the past two years, is a speaks volumes to the challenges landlords face with short-term rental platforms.
“They just stay, they just squat,” McIlree told WOWT, expressing her exasperation at the situation. Despite her insistence that Arcadu could not stay without payment, he continued to occupy the property, exploiting the gray areas in landlord-tenant laws.
This incident is not isolated. Arcadu, along with his family, has been accused of similar schemes in other short-term rentals. They were also evicted from an Omaha townhouse after the owners, Patty and David North, managed to obtain a court order.
The Norths’ experience echoes McIlree’s, as they initially believed Arcadu’s stories of needing accommodation due to family illness and attempts to purchase a house in the area. However, their goodwill turned to dismay when Arcadu ceased payments, ultimately owing them $6,000.
Legal complexities add to the property owners’ struggles. Despite contacting the police, the Norths learned that law enforcement could not intervene due to the ambiguous nature of tenant rights in the context of Airbnb rentals.
This legal haze has enabled Arcadu to allegedly accrue $130,000 in unpaid rent and lease fees across various properties over two years, including a staggering $76,000 owed to The Magnolia hotel.
Attorney Michael Polk, representing some of the victims, emphasized Arcadu’s manipulation of the system, stating, “He knows how to game the system and stay in a property and not pay rent.”
Following a Douglas County Court ruling that Arcadu and his wife are not protected by landlord-tenant laws, Polk began the eviction process.
Arcadu, however, denies these allegations, insisting it’s not a scheme and offering to pay the Norths if allowed to stay longer, which they refused.
“Even if we never get our money, I just want to see that he doesn’t do this to someone else like us,” Patty North said.
This issue is not unique to Arcadu. Another notable case involves “serial squatter” Elizabeth Hirschhorn, who was evicted from a $3.5 million LA mansion after living rent-free for 575 days.
The complexities of the case, which involved a protracted legal battle with landlord Sascha Jovanovic, demonstrate the intricate challenges property owners face in evicting squatters.
The rising problem of Airbnb squatting raises significant questions about the adequacy of existing laws to protect homeowners and the need for more stringent regulations to prevent such abuses.
As Polk plans to take evidence to a criminal prosecutor, it becomes clear that while these disputes are typically civil matters, they often escalate to a level necessitating criminal intervention.
There is clearly a dire need for legal reform to safeguard property owners against such predatory and exploitive practices.
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