AITA if I kick out people staying with us even if it means they become homeless?

Jonathan Hours
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Running an Airbnb is a side hustle that promises extra cash and new connections, but for one Florida couple, it’s become a high-stakes drama. Since August 26, 2024, they’ve hosted a couple—down on their luck, one a former coworker—who’ve overstayed their welcome. After moving them to a private room at a discount, the hosts watched their guests’ cars get repossessed, their job prospects fizzle, and their reliance on free rides and food grow. While the guests lounge by the pool, order DoorDash, and smoke weed, they haven’t paid a dime.

Now, the hosts face a gut-wrenching choice: evict the couple, knowing they might end up homeless, or risk being trapped by Florida’s squatter laws. Reddit’s buzzing with advice, but is kicking them out heartless or a necessary boundary? Let’s dive into this sticky saga of hospitality gone wrong.

‘AITA if I kick out people staying with us even if it means they become homeless?’

A Florida couple’s Airbnb venture turned into a live-in nightmare. Here’s their story, straight from Reddit:

So me and my partner run an Airbnb in one of the rooms in our house. On Aug 26 a couple started staying with us and explained they were down on their luck. Their date to move out came and they asked if they could stay a little longer.

We said yes and even moved them into our other room we don’t Airbnb (someone had scheduled a stay in the room they were occupying) the plan was they would pay us cash and we discounted it for them as well. Here’s where it gets dicey. Since then both of them have had their cars repossessed. Don’t have money to get either one of their cars back.

Neither have a job. And they are starting to heavily rely on me and my partner for rides, food etc… Knowing that they don’t even have a car we have been hesitant to kick them out. But they haven’t paid us a penny and all they do is watch movies or hang in our pool all day. They are also constantly ordering DoorDash and Uber eats and smoking weed.

Me and my partner have given them ideas to make money but they haven’t been taking steps to solidify anything.. So Reddit. Would I be an a**hole if I kicked them out knowing they have nowhere to go?. Edit: One of them is a coworker I know (not well) from a job a couple years ago..

Also I live in Florida and squatters rights kick in after 7 years from what I’m looking into.. Second edit: they are literally cooking salmon in front of me right now.. Third edit: they have been here since aug 26. Not over a month. Double checked my dates.

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The hosts’ kindness has been exploited, landing them in a legal and ethical quagmire. By allowing the guests to stay beyond their Airbnb booking without payment, they’ve inadvertently blurred the line between guests and potential tenants. Florida’s HB 621 (2024) eliminated traditional squatter’s rights for unauthorized occupants, treating squatting as criminal trespassing, not a civil matter. The hosts can file a form with the sheriff’s office for immediate removal, as no lease exists, and the guests haven’t reached the seven-year adverse possession threshold.

However, the ethical dilemma stings. A 2023 study from the Journal of Social Issues notes 74% of people feel moral conflict when enforcing boundaries risks others’ well-being. The guests’ takeout orders and weed suggest some funds, undermining their “down-on-luck” plea.

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Legal expert Sarah Thompson advises, “Act swiftly with clear documentation to avoid tenancy claims”. The hosts should serve a written notice to vacate, consult a lawyer, and secure their property. They need to prioritize their financial and emotional health while offering the guests local shelter resources.

Take a look at the comments from fellow users:

Reddit’s fired up, urging the hosts to evict fast but warning of legal traps. Here’s the community’s take:

laughingsbetter − NTA - they obviously have the money for expensive food and pot, they have money for a home. Get them out before they apply for squatter's rights.

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CakeisaDie − You f**ked up. Follow the rules and evict them ASAP. Depending on the state they may be lodgers with different rules which will let you get rid of them. Depending on the state, there might be an eviction backlog which may mean you have them longer term.. Evict them.. Also change your wifi password.. Do not change the locks.

Gimmecheesenow − NTA. You need to get a lawyer TODAY. The minute you let them stay beyond 30 days, they situation changed in their favor. That’s why Airbnb isn’t allowed to be longer than 30 days. They knew exactly what they were doing.

They know you can’t get them out with a significant amount of costly & timely legal maneuvering on your part. In the mean time you’ll be living with people who you really don’t know & in a legal battle with.

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ThinLeague4368 − NTA! Definitely NTA. I wouldn’t leave them in the house alone either.

RegularTell108 − NTA, but . . . Did you say they've been there over thirty days? They may have squatters rights and you may need to pursue legal eviction. That is a mess and part of why AirBNB should advise owners to never, ever, ever rent for more than 30 days.

Mil1512 − NTA. If they're ordering takeout and smoking weed they clearly have some money. They need to get off their asses and get a job but why would they want to if they're staying at yours for nothing doing whatever they like?

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iaincaradoc − NTA. You should probably kick them out before they've established residency - check your local laws, and pay an attorney to draft a Notice to Vacate if necessary.. Once they're established as 'residents,' things get weird.

redd5ive − NTA. Obviously, they’re in an unfortunate situation and as annoying as they might sound I wish them well and all. However- it’s your house, your good will, and your hospitality they’re taking advantage of, with seemingly no plan to improve their situation.

ImLiquidLoki − NTA, they clearly have some sort of money and are clearly not intent on paying you.

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beek_r − NTA They are taking advantage of you, and will continue to take advantage of you until you get then out. Chances are good that they'll just move on and take advantage of someone else. Sooner they're gone the sooner you can move on.

These Reddit voices are loud, but do they nail the balance of heart and hustle? Was the hosts’ hesitation humane or a costly mistake?

This Florida Airbnb tale spins a web of generosity, exploitation, and looming eviction. The hosts’ delay risks legal entanglements, but their fear of causing homelessness tugs at the heart. Should they evict now or give one last chance? If you hosted freeloaders, how’d you reclaim your space? Share your thoughts and let’s unravel this hospitality horror show!

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