(NewsInsights.org) – Like death and taxes, rent is an inescapable part of life for many people. But apparently, it’s not for Elizabeth Hirshhorn. The so-called “tenant from hell” managed to squat in a luxury Brentwood, California, guesthouse for 575 days, allegedly rent-free, according to People magazine.
The property owner, Sascha Jovanovic, breathed a sigh of relief after Hirshhorn moved out on Friday, November 3. Yet, it came as a complete surprise.
Jovanovic and Hirshhorn met in September 2021 when she contacted him about renting his guesthouse for $105 per night for a 6-month term after seeing it on Airbnb. The $3.5 million property features several high-end amenities, including a roof-top tennis court, a pool, and a fitness center. Additionally, the guesthouse included its own private rooftop patio and a two-car garage.
Yet, when her six-month term ended, Hirshhorn refused to leave or continue paying rent. Instead, Amanda Seward, Hirshhorn’s attorney, claimed her client didn’t have to pay rent because Jovanovic had never properly licensed the guesthouse as a rental through Airbnb.
Jovanovic also hadn’t applied for a certificate of occupancy with the city because he’d constructed the shower without obtaining a permit or undergoing inspections. The shortcut resulted in an unsolved mold problem that had become contentious between the renter and the landlord.
As Hirshhorn had stayed in the unlicensed property for six months, Los Angeles ordinances didn’t allow Jovanovic to evict her under “Just Cause” provisions. She wouldn’t give him access to make the property upgrades to obtain the licenses, and she wouldn’t leave. Ultimately, both parties filed lawsuits against each other.
Hirshhorn told Seward that she left the premises because of Jovanovic’s harassment and wanted the property repaired so she could continue living there. However, once she left, Sebastian Rucci, Jovanovic’s attorney, brought in a locksmith to change the locks.
Rucci told Seward her client wasn’t welcome to return. While he dropped the eviction lawsuit against Hirshhorn, he maintained a suit for damages and back rent.
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