Removing a Guest Who Won't Leave After Your Agreed Two-Week Stay
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Reviewed & verified by A. Jason Velez, Esq.*
Managing Attorney, 1LAW · Last reviewed May 24, 2026
Legal Inquiry
Consumer Legal Issue
I let my son's friend's dad and my son's friend stay with me for 2 weeks I was clear to him that he had to be out by next Friday because my landlord only allows extended guests for 2 weeks though it seems they are getting too comfortable and the grown man is sleeping in my 12 year old's bed my 12 year old has had to sleep on the couch or with me they have not provided anything.
Attorney Answer
An adult sleeping in your 12-year-old's bed while your child is displaced to a couch is itself a welfare concern, and it warrants an immediate call to your landlord and, if you have any concern for your child's safety, to local police — separate from the question of removing the guest.
On removing the guest: someone you invited to stay temporarily who overstays generally cannot be removed through self-help, such as changing locks or putting belongings outside. Missouri's unlawful detainer statute (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 534.030) treats willfully holding over premises after the right to occupy has ended as unlawful detainer, addressed through a court action under Chapter 534 — this is a different, much more immediate process than adverse possession, which can create ownership rights but only after occupying property for years.
What you can do:
1. Contact your landlord now about the guest situation and the sleeping arrangement affecting your child; if you have safety concerns for your child, contact local police as well.
2. Put your two-week agreement in writing if you have not already (text, email, or a dated note), noting when it was made.
3. Give the guests clear written notice of the date they must leave.
4. If they refuse to leave after that date, pursue a formal unlawful detainer action rather than removing them or their belongings yourself.
⏱ Time limits apply. The longer this continues, the more likely a formal unlawful detainer proceeding will be needed rather than informal resolution, and continued unauthorized occupancy could put your own lease at risk with your landlord. Given the child-safety concern, act promptly and have a local attorney review your options right away.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can a tenant legally remove an overstaying guest by changing the locks?
Generally, self-help measures like changing locks or removing belongings are not permitted; a formal legal process is typically required to remove someone who won't leave.
What legal process is generally used to remove a guest who won't leave after being asked?
In many states, this generally falls under an unlawful detainer or similar court process, which can be pursued after giving clear written notice to leave.
Should a landlord be notified about a guest situation affecting a lease?
Generally yes, notifying the landlord promptly can help protect the tenant's own lease and address any safety concerns involving the property.
