business
Squatters took over her Airbnb property. She fought back and wants others to do the same
Summary by The Nashville Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Scripps News Group , NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate)
· July 23, 2026
· 5 min read
An Airbnb host is warning property owners to fight back after squatters took over a home on her ranch and demanded $30,000 to leave, prompting her to hire a company that specializes in removing squatters. The whole situation just crushed me. I reached a point where I had no idea what to do and fe...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Nashville Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Scripps News Group, NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate) Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 23, 2026 Indexed here Jul 23, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
Every story comes with a passport. How we work · Corrections log
Key takeaway I reached a point where I had no idea what to do and felt extremely helpless and beyond frustrated, said Grace Young in an interview on her property in the unincorporated El Cajon, located in Southern California.
Why this matters in The Nashville
While this incident occurred in California, Nashville property owners who rent out their homes on platforms like Airbnb should take note of the potential risks. As the city's short-term rental market continues to grow, the possibility of squatters taking over a property is a concern that local owners should be aware of. In Nashville, where the demand for short-term rentals is high, especially during events like the CMA Fest and NFL games, property owners may be more likely to encounter problematic guests. The fact that squatters in this case were able to claim tenant rights under California law raises questions about how similar situations would be handled in Tennessee, where landlord-tenant laws may differ. Nashville property owners would do well to familiarize themselves with local laws and regulations regarding short-term rentals and tenant rights to avoid finding themselves in a similar situation.
About this story
Original reporting by NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate) . The Nashville surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: business ·
Published: July 23, 2026 ·
Source: NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate) ·
Reading time: 5 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? An Airbnb host is warning property owners to fight back after squatters took over a home on her ranch and demanded $30,000 to leave, prompting her to hire a company that specializes in removing squatters. The whole situation just crushed me. I reached a point where I had no idea what to do and fe...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 23, 2026 by NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate) and curated for The Nashville readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Scripps News Group at NewsChannel 5 WTVF (CBS affiliate). To learn more about how The Nashville selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more business coverage from The Nashville, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More business →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter