The problem of squatting is not confined to terrestrial property.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, at a breakfast forum in Manila on Wednesday, said there is a squatter in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
He described the foreign squatter as an illegal occupant. As the squatter invokes its sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea and keeps intercepting boats delivering supplies to Filipino troops stationed at Ayungin Shoal and Rizal Reef, he suggested that China apply for a visa to make its entry into Philippine territory legal.
Squatting is a deliberate abuse of one’s hospitality, as in the case between Brentwood, California homeowner Sascha Jovanovic and his Airbnb renter Elizabeth Hirschhorn.
Jovanovic rented his luxury guesthouse to Hirschhorn for 187 nights at $105 per night, or a total of $20,793, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Five months into her stay, Hirschhorn asked Jovanovic to repair blinds, water damage, and mold. Since the room had to be vacated for the repair, Jovanovic offered to pay for the guest’s five-day stay at a hotel.
Hirschhorn turned down the offer, as well as an offer to stay temporarily in Jovanovic’s home, due to Covid-19 and other medical concerns, Fox Business reported.
From the beginning of her stay in the guesthouse in September 2021 until the end of the rent deal in March 2022, repairs were not done on the room as the occupant disputed her temporary relocation. The two agreed that the renter permanently moves out the following month.
When the date for Hirschhorn to leave came on 12 April 2022, she did not vacate the place for lack of funds to relocate.
Jovanovic could not boot Hirschhorn out after she complained about his eviction notice to the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, which found that the guesthouse wasn’t approved for occupancy and had an unapproved shower, according to Fox Business.
Hirschhorn reported the violations to the housing authority, which stayed its enforcement of the eviction.
Jovanovic was fined $600 despite arguing that compliance could not be done because the occupied unit was inaccessible.
Jovanovic sued Hirschhorn for damages amounting to $58,000 for unpaid rent since 13 April 2022.
Hirschhorn filed a complaint against Jovanovic, accusing him of negligence, nuisance, intentional infliction of emotional distress, unlawful business practices, and violation of Covid-19 renter protections, Fox Business reported.
The report added that she sought a refund of the $20,793 in rent for the unit’s code violations.
Due to the ongoing litigation, the guest remains at the location 556 days after her last rent payment on 12 April 2022.