What to Do When “Guests” Refuse to Leave


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Jan 26 2025 30 mins  

In this episode, Alex and Pooh discuss what to do when guests refuse to leave, a situation they have faced and resolved. They discuss why calling the Police is rarely an option, and why often it is not a simple case of physically kicking them out and changing the locks. Alex and Pooh also explain why taking them to court is rarely the right first step. 

How to minimize the risk of this happening to you and where to get help with overstayers is also covered in great detail.

 

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Guests have no legal right to overstay in serviced accommodation or a hotel room. 
  • This is a civil matter, so the police will rarely intervene.
    Properly vetting your guests greatly reduces the chances of guests refusing to leave.
  • Do not rely on the OTAs of platforms like Booking.com.
    Always verify the ID of all guests. 
  • Make sure guests actually sign the terms and conditions and contract. 
  • If a company makes the booking e.g. For employees, who signs the contract and terms and conditions are a bit different. Alex and Pooh explain why and what to do.
  • If a 3rd party booked your property for the guests they will not help you remove them if they refuse to leave. The problem is still yours. 
    Using a solicitor and taking overstayers to court works but it is expensive and takes a long time. 
  • If you say the wrong thing you can inadvertently open the door to overstayers being able to use squatters’ rights against you.

BEST MOMENTS

“With all education, it's about the good, the bad and the ugly, and in this episode, it’s going to get ugly.”
“There are certain procedures that you have to comply with. There are certain things that you can't even say.”
“I called the police, and they said, why don't you call citizen advice for guidance.”
“You have to fight your corner to the end to get the insurance back.”
“Due diligence can massively help to minimize this risk.”


HOST BIOS

Alex & Pooh have built a portfolio of over 16 Serviced Accommodation Units and 10 Buy-To-Lets collectively over the last 5 years. - 

This AirBnB Business has allowed each of them to create their own tailor-made ‘lifestyle by design.’

Pooh chose to escape the corporate life as an electrical engineer instead to spend his time at home with his young and growing family, and Alex likes to spend most of his time in sunny Spain enjoying his love for road cycling or even hiking in the Tramuntana mountain ranges.