Conversion from string "" to type 'Double' is not valid

I have a variable that contains an integer which I then want to save as the value for a column (of type integer in the sql database and int32 in the entity model), but when I try this I receive the error:

"Conversion from string "" to type 'Double' is not valid"

I'm very confused by this since I'm not using a string or a double? The trouble-making line is:

UpdateBed.First.occupant = GetID

And here is the full code snippet:

    Private Sub btnReserve_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnReserve.Click
    Using dbContext As pbu_housingEntities = New pbu_housingEntities
        ' Check that the room is still available.
        Dim hall As String = CStr(Session("hall"))
        Dim room As String = CStr(Session("room"))
        Dim checkOccupants = From p In dbContext.Rooms _
                             Let building_id = p.Building1.id _
                             Where p.building_name = hall _
                             Where p.room1 = room _
                             Select p.current_occupancy, p.max_occupancy, p.id, building_id

        If checkOccupants.First.current_occupancy >= checkOccupants.First.max_occupancy Then
            ' If it isn't available, let the student know.
            lblResult.Text = "Sorry, this room is now fully occupied. Please choose another room."
        Else
            ' If it is available, add the student to the room.
            Dim Occupant As New Resident
            Dim gender As String = CStr(Session("gender"))
            Dim person_name As String = CStr(Session("person_name"))
            Dim class_level As String = CStr(Session("class_level"))
            Dim semester As String = CStr(Session("term"))
            Dim people_code_id As String = CStr(Session("people_code_id"))
            Dim first_name As String = CStr(Session("first_name"))
            Dim last_name As String = CStr(Session("last_name"))
            Dim building_id As String = checkOccupants.First.building_id
            Dim room_id As String = checkOccupants.First.id
            Occupant.building = building_id
            Occupant.room = room_id
            Occupant.gender = gender
            Occupant.person_name = person_name
            Occupant.class_level = class_level
            Occupant.semester = semester
            Occupant.people_code_id = people_code_id
            Occupant.create_date = Date.Now
            Occupant.first_name = first_name
            Occupant.last_name = last_name
            dbContext.Residents.AddObject(Occupant)

            ' Increment the number of occupants in the room.
            Dim UpdateOccupancy = (From p In dbContext.Rooms _
                   Where p.building_name = hall _
                   Where p.room1 = room _
                   Select p).First
            UpdateOccupa开发者_如何学编程ncy.current_occupancy = UpdateOccupancy.current_occupancy + 1

            ' Add the student to a bed.
            Dim UpdateBed = From p In dbContext.Beds _
                            Where p.building = building_id _
                            Where p.room = room_id _
                            Where p.occupant = "" _
                            Select p

            ' Get the student's ID from the residency table.
            Dim GetID = (From p In dbContext.Residents _
                        Where p.people_code_id = people_code_id _
                        Order By p.id Descending _
                        Select p.id).FirstOrDefault

            UpdateBed.First.occupant = GetID
            dbContext.SaveChanges()
            lblResult.Text = "Success! You have successfully requested residency in this room!"
        End If
    End Using
End Sub

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This line in your LINQ query ...

Where p.occupant = ""

... and this assignment ...

UpdateBed.First.occupant = GetID

don't seem to fit well together (if GetID is an Int32). Shouldn't it be perhaps Where p.occupant = 0 or something?