Power must be restored as the case moves toward a decision expected next week.
WASHINGTON, DC — A District of Columbia judge on Thursday allowed an Airbnb guest accused by a homeowner of squatting to continue living in the property, ordering the electricity turned back on while the court sorts out where the guest and her child will stay in the short term.
The ruling extends a months-long dispute that began after a February Airbnb stay at the home turned into a standoff over tenancy and access. Homeowner Rochanne Douglas says the guest, identified in court and police records as Shadija Romero, overstayed a March 29 reservation and then claimed tenant protections. The case highlights a legal gray area that can arise when short-term stays cross local residency thresholds and end up in landlord–tenant court. A further ruling on housing arrangements is expected next week as both sides prepare for additional hearings.
Douglas told reporters she accepted a 32-day booking earlier this year, then was locked out of parts of her property in recent months while continuing to pay the mortgage and utilities. On Thursday morning, after neighbors alerted her that Romero had left with packed bags, Douglas boarded windows and secured doors. She said police had earlier cleared the property. By midafternoon, Romero returned and regained access with the help of a locksmith, prompting more calls to police and fresh allegations of trespass. “This is unbelievable,” Douglas said outside the home. “Everybody has a breaking point.” In the evening emergency hearing, the judge directed Douglas to restore electric service and said a decision on where Romero and her child will live is due next week.
In filings and in court Thursday, Douglas said Romero initially booked the home through Airbnb in February, saying she needed a place because of a fire at her residence. The stay ended March 29. Douglas said that after 30 days, Romero began asserting tenant rights, refused to leave and later transferred utility accounts into her daughter’s name. Douglas also accused Romero of tampering with cameras and attempting to push her from a ladder as she posted a sign declaring that the property was not authorized for occupancy. Romero, who approached a reporter after the hearing, said she made payments beyond the initial booking and had an agreement to extend her stay. “I plan on leaving,” Romero said, describing the situation as emotionally draining, while maintaining she had been paying regularly.
Neighbors told Douglas they saw Romero depart earlier Thursday with others and a loaded car. Police returned when Romero reentered the house, according to Douglas, who said officers had previously told her that if Romero came back it could be considered breaking and entering. Later, D.C. child services staff visited the home, citing concerns about a minor staying inside a property without power. Police also took a report after Douglas said her truck parked behind the house went missing. The judge’s order to restore electricity aimed to stabilize conditions at the property while the court reviews competing claims about residency, payments and access. The judge’s name was not immediately available from the docket Thursday evening.
Records and interviews indicate Douglas offered $2,500 in November to resolve the fight if Romero admitted she was not a tenant and moved out; Romero signed the paper, Douglas said, but remained. Douglas also posted a large sign on the roof to alert officers and neighbors that the home was not authorized for occupancy by Romero; people inside hung a sheet to cover it until police cut the sheet down. The dispute has also spilled onto social media, where Romero has promoted a nonprofit and posted images from trips, according to Douglas, who said she has spent thousands on attorneys while carrying monthly housing costs. Romero did not respond to detailed questions about those posts and said she wanted to leave but needed time.
The legal process now shifts to landlord–tenant court, where judges weigh whether an Airbnb guest became a tenant entitled to eviction protections under local law. Douglas said her next court date is Dec. 11 and that she hopes any order would authorize U.S. Marshals or other officers to remove unauthorized occupants. For now, the judge has left living arrangements unchanged while requesting that power be restored. Additional motions could address access for repairs, responsibility for utilities and whether any agreement after March created a tenancy. No criminal charges connected to Thursday’s incidents had been announced by late evening.
Outside the property, neighbors watched as contractors secured windows and officers came and went. “We thought she was finally gone,” one neighbor said, describing the midday scene of packed bags and a loaded car. As night fell, Douglas said the uncertainty was wearing on her. “I feel sorry for her, I really do,” she said of Romero. “But you can’t do it at my expense.” Romero, speaking briefly, said the public attention had been overwhelming. “This has taken a toll,” she said, adding that she hoped the court would consider her payments and circumstances.
As of late Thursday, Romero remained inside the home under the temporary order, and the electricity was being restored. The court is expected to address short-term housing and access at a follow-up proceeding on Dec. 11.
Author note: Last updated December 4, 2025.