Los Angeles, CA – An Airbnb host is locked in a legal battle with a guest who has refused to leave his $3.8 million Brentwood mansion after staying for over 540 days.
Sascha Jovanovic first listed the guesthouse on his property on Airbnb in September 2021. He approved Elizabeth Hirschhorn, the renter, for a 187-night stay from September 2021 to March 2022 at $105 per night. Hirschhorn then extended her reservation by an additional 24 days through April 12, 2022.
However, after her rental period ended, Hirschhorn refused to vacate the premises. She has now lived in the guesthouse for over 540 days without Jovanovic’s permission.
Jovanovic states that he feels unsafe in his own home with Hirschhorn illegally occupying the guesthouse. “I can never go into my home and know that I’m safe when a potentially hostile person is living there. I’m thinking about it at all times,” he told the Los Angeles Times.
The dentist initially tried to resolve the issue by offering to pay for Hirschhorn to stay in a hotel while he fixed water damage in the guesthouse. But Hirschhorn declined, citing LA County COVID-19 regulations and a medical note about chemical sensitivities.
Jovanovic then offered for her to stay in his main house, which she also refused due to allergies to his cats.
With no agreement reached, Jovanovic informed Hirschhorn that she would be considered a trespasser after her rental period ended. However, she still refused to leave.
Jovanovic and his lawyer filed a lawsuit against Hirschhorn for breach of lease, damages, negligence, and trespass to property. But a judge dismissed the complaints, ruling there were no legal grounds for eviction under LA’s new rent stabilization laws.
The ordinance prevents landlords from evicting tenants without just cause after they have occupied a unit for over six months. Since Hirschhorn had stayed past that threshold, she could not be forcibly removed.
Hirschhorn has now counter-sued Jovanovic, claiming the unpermitted rental unit should have had a maximum rent of $0. As such, she argues she is owed compensation for all the rent she previously paid.
The dramatic dispute has left Jovanovic and Hirschhorn as unwilling neighbors living just steps apart on the mansion property.
Jovanovic long used the guesthouse to host 5-star rated Airbnb guests before Hirschhorn moved in. He is now hoping to finally evict her so his children can use the space again.
The homeowner said this situation has taken a psychological toll, stating “It never leaves my mind.” But for now, the extended stay guest shows no signs of leaving.
