Elizabeth Hirschhorn: Airbnb Tenant From Hell

Here’s a high‑energy, eyebrow‑raising recap of the Elizabeth Hirschhorn saga — the Airbnb Harvard graduate turned “tenant from hell” in Brentwood, California.

In September 2021, Hirschhorn (a Harvard graduate turned “writer”) booked a six-month stay at a Brentwood guesthouse listed on Airbnb by Dr. Sascha Jovanovic.

Initially it went well — but about five months in, water damage and mold emerged. When repairs were needed, Hirschhorn allegedly refused landlord access and stopped paying rent in April 2022. The six‑month stay officially ended in March 2022, but an informal agreement extended her tenure to April 12, 2022 — after which she refused to vacate.

Hirschhorn continued to live in the unit rent‑free for a whopping 570 days, citing California tenant‐protection laws and asserting the rental unit was improperly licensed and unpermitted.

Jovanovic sued Hirschhorn for unpaid rent (est. nearly $60,000) and eviction. Hirschhorn countersued, alleging harassment, emotional distress, and arguing she owed nothing since the unit lacked proper permits. She even demanded a $100,000 relocation fee, claiming her legal rights barred eviction without compensation.

Finally, in November 2023, after constant legal maneuvering and news coverage, Hirschhorn was supervised by LAPD officers while she apparently packed up to move out. Within the hour, Jovanovic changed the locks — though Hirschhorn’s attorney claimed this may have violated statutes.

As of publication, it’s unclear whether she relocated permanently or quietly planned another move. Legal battles over damages remain open.

What’s Going On Legally in California?

California’s tenant‐friendly laws can classify long‑term occupants — even ones paying no rent and lacking a lease — as “tenants at will.” That triggers formal eviction procedures, not police removal. Hosts listing a property on Airbnb in California now must limit stays to 28 days, or risk triggering tenancy rights that complicate evictions afterward.

Hirschhorn’s case has become a cautionary tale: a savvy occupant leveraging code violations and laws to live rent‑free indefinitely through legal pressure.

So, is she a “serial squatter”?

The Reddit community has labeled her the “serial squatter” — based on a previous instance in Oakland in 2019, where she allegedly refused to pay rent citing COVID restrictions and remained over a year — but definitive court rulings from that case remain murky.

In true Golden Girls fashion, it’s the home alone episode you don’t want to live. All the legal twists, squatter rights, and code loopholes turned Airbnb hosting into a minefield.

Landlord lesson: don’t let guests overstay beyond 28 days in California — and always ensure permits are solid. Tenant lesson: you can push the system — but a messy legal fight and eviction can still backfire.

Hirschhorn — bright, Harvard‑educated, legally argumentative — became the headline example of how someone can weaponize tenant‑friendly housing laws. Meanwhile, Jovanovic now has his home back but is likely still fighting for compensation.