Short Term Rental OUTSIDE of VRBO/AIRBNB (Squatters)

[Ahmed Sublaban]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to reach out to the community for some guidance. Please help in any way you can. I appreciate any advice. 

I currently have a STR in Chico, Ca and I have a guest who has reached out on VRBO regarding a long term stay (3 months). I understand the risk with squatter rights and stays longer than 30 days, but hear me out. She is currently on the wait list for a few apartments here, but due to the constant high demand from college students, she is stuck. She is taking care of her mom and aunt (Medical issues) and has 2 sons.

We agreed that she can stay in 28 day increments and that it is a short term stay. I have a strict contract in place which directly states that the guest understands it is a short term stay, that she does not have rental rights due to it being a short term stay, that if she wanted to stay longer, and a new contract would signed and paid up front. 

There's a lot more legal terms in the contract but you get the gist. 

My question is, what is the best possible way to protect myself in case she tries to squat? Would this contact suffice or would California's laws screw me? I have had multiple long term stays without any issues, but I really need to ensure I am protecting myself. She has stayed in the home for only a week so we are early. 

Please let me know the best actions to take. 

(I have called a few attorneys but I wanted to ask here as well.)

[Dave Stokley]

This is a legal question and you're better off talking to attorneys in California who get paid to do this stuff.