What Makes A House A Home?

[white avenger]

We've seen again and again in both "Buffy" and "Angel" that a vampire cannot cross over the threshold of someone's home without being invited in by the resident. We've also seen vampires being able to come in within seconds of the resident's death, and no restrictions whatsoever on vacant houses or public buildings. So, here's the question, or, more accurately, the questions.

What makes a house a home?

If a homeless person moves into a vacant house or abandoned building, does that make it impossible for a vampire to enter?

What about second homes, like summer cottages, hunting lodges, and the like? Are they only homes when the owner is actually staying there?

Are temporary dwellings, like hotel rooms covered by the restriction?

If a vampire is invited into a mansion, does that also give him access to the servants' quarters?

Can an apartment landlord invite a vampire into all of the apartments in his apartment building?

What happens to a vampire caught in a dwelling at the moment that it makes the change from house to home? Is he trapped unless the home owner orders him out, or does some supernatural force instantly eject him from the building?

Come up with an answer to any or all, or even add anything that I might have missed.

 

[VisionGirl]

Most of this is my opinion only, not necessarily backed up by anything in the 'verse.

If a homeless person moves into a vacant house or abandoned building, does that make it impossible for a vampire to enter? Yes.

What about second homes, like summer cottages, hunting lodges, and the like? Are they only homes when the owner is actually staying there? Yes and No.

Are temporary dwellings, like hotel rooms covered by the restriction? No. I don't think that Angel had to be invited in anywhere in the Hyperion.

If a vampire is invited into a mansion, does that also give him access to the servants' quarters? Yes.

Can an apartment landlord invite a vampire into all of the apartments in his apartment building? No.

What happens to a vampire caught in a dwelling at the moment that it makes the change from house to home? Is he trapped unless the home owner orders him out, or does some supernatural force instantly eject him from the building? I don't know.