World Series of Poker player Wendy Weissman experienced a homeowner's nightmare when a guest she booked through Airbnb overstayed his 30-day rental agreement at her $1.9 million Hermosa Beach townhouse. The guest, identified as Evhan Lamarck, a Frenchman, refused to leave after his initial booking period concluded, effectively squatting in the property for over 48 days.
Lamarck's extended stay capitalized on California's tenant protection laws, which can classify short-term renters as legal tenants after 30 days. This designation requires property owners to go through a lengthy and expensive eviction process to remove them. Weissman stated that a formal eviction could have cost her approximately $70,000 in lost rental income, in addition to her ongoing mortgage and property tax obligations.
When confronted by ABC7 about his prolonged stay, Lamarck reportedly stated, "Yeah, it's really fair," before closing the door on the reporter. He also claimed to have lost his credit card, necessitating his continued occupancy until a new one was issued. Weissman attempted to seek assistance from Airbnb, but reported receiving minimal support, with the platform advising her to contact local law enforcement.
Police initially deemed the situation a civil matter. However, Weissman was eventually able to regain access to her property when a significant water leak occurred. She stated that Lamarck denied the leak's existence, prompting her to declare an emergency and call a plumber. The water issue led Lamarck and others to vacate the premises, loading their belongings into a U-Haul truck.
Following their departure, Weissman discovered the townhouse in a significant state of disarray. Photos revealed trash, including cups filled with cigarette butts, a dirty toilet, and sand in the shower. Weissman reported that the squatter caused several thousand dollars in damages, the costs of which were partially covered by her insurance and Airbnb's AirCover program.
Adding to the ordeal, Lamarck left a negative review of his stay. Weissman contested the review, and Airbnb subsequently removed it from the site and deactivated Lamarck's profile. An Airbnb spokesperson told The Daily Mail that such incidents are rare and that the company was working with the host and had removed the guest from their platform. Weissman expressed a desire for Airbnb to offer protection against squatters, lamenting that California's laws are disadvantageous to property owners.