(The Center Square) — The Georgia Senate could soon consider legislation to allow property owners to evict squatters more easily following reports of people taking over properties without permission, particularly in the Atlanta area.
House Bill 1017, the Squatter Reform Act, which the House passed 167-0, would create the offense of unlawful squatting when someone enters and resides in a property without the owner’s “knowledge or consent.”
Under the measure, authorities could cite suspected squatters and give them three business days to provide documentation showing they are authorized to be on a property. Anyone who cannot provide documentation faces a misdemeanor criminal trespass charge, which carries a potential sentence of up to 12 months and a fine of up to $1,000.
If a suspected squatter provides documentation, a hearing to determine its validity will be set within seven days of the submission. If the
Read more…
