A new video circulating online shows a group of heavily armed police officers evicting squatters from a sprawling Georgia mansion. The video shows officers from the Fulton County Marshal’s Department wearing bulletproof vests, approaching the 15,000-square-foot Atlanta mansion with guns and shields mounted in the early morning hours. The officers make their way through the expansive home with weapons drawn, going room to room in search of the squatters. Due to the home’s size, the department stated they took extra safety precautions during the raid, deploying additional units and using a drone for aerial surveillance to ensure safety and effective monitoring.
Georgia defines squatting as the unauthorized occupation of property without the owner’s consent. Property owners have the legal right to evict squatters, but often face obstacles as they must follow strict legal procedures. A new Georgia law enacted in July mandates that squatters caught in a home be issued a criminal citation and must provide a lease within three days. If the lease is deemed fraudulent, squatters will be charged with a felony. This law also allows people other than homeowners to report squatters, empowering concerned neighbors to work together to remove illegal tenants from their property. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s spokesperson expressed pride in signing this critical legislation aimed at tackling illegal squatting and holding offenders accountable.
Squatters are often aware that they are illegally occupying a property and may use the legal system to force property owners to spend significant money on unnecessary legal fees to evict them. Ryan McCall, an expert in landlord and eviction law, explained that squatters may demand payment to leave the property, rather than going through the eviction process, which can be costly and time-consuming. Many states and cities provide free legal counsel to those facing wrongful evictions, however, landlords are typically not entitled to free legal representation and must pay out of pocket. McCall recommended that homeowners leaving their property for an extended period should set up cameras and have neighbors check on the place to prevent squatters from targeting them.
Nationally, victims of squatters are turning to services outside of the police to remove illegal tenants from their homes. Lando Thomas founded Squatter Squad, a Southern California-based organization, to help homeowners get rid of squatters without incurring expensive legal fees. Thomas advises homeowners to stand their ground with squatters, not allowing them to feel comfortable or have freedom inside the property. He emphasizes that property owners should assert their rights and not allow illegal trespassers to take advantage of weak tenant laws. This proactive approach to dealing with squatters can help protect homeowners from the financial burdens of unnecessary legal battles and lengthy eviction processes. With the support of organizations like Squatter Squad and the implementation of laws like those in Georgia, homeowners have additional resources available to address the issue of illegal occupation of their properties and protect their legal rights.
