State Issues
HB 1017 Passes Georgia Senate
March 27, 2024
A news outlet recently rated Atlanta as the #1 city for squatters, but this problem is not exclusive to metro Atlanta. House Bill 1017, which is now on its way to the Governor’s desk, will immediately provide much-needed relief to property owners, tenants, law enforcement, and Georgia's court system. HB 1017 will:
- Codify the crime of squatting in the criminal trespass statute and make the crime a misdemeanor.
- Provide a definite timeline for law enforcement to demand the removal of the squatter and then return to forcibly remove the squatter, if necessary.
- Remove squatting cases from Superior Court, which have case backlogs of six to nine months in some Metro Atlanta counties.
- Allow the property owner to seek monetary relief from the squatter if convicted.
All across Georgia, squatters have become a huge problem for property owners and tenants. They are illegally taking over properties, destroying them, causing havoc, and increasing crime in our neighborhoods.
These properties held up by squatters could be put out for rent or put up for sale in our critical housing shortage, but owners cannot get their own properties back. In many counties, the Superior Court is so backed up with eviction cases that they can't even take on squatting issues, meaning the squatters can drag out the process for months.
If signed by the Governor, this bill will give Georgia property owners and the courts clarity to address the squatters issue.
About the PCBR Market Brief
The Pickens County Board of REALTORS® (PCBR) Market Brief is compiled by First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS). For more information on details of this month's report, please contact the Board at 770.866.1397.
*Each month, the numbers reported for the previous month are updated to reflect additional recordings.
About the Pickens County Board of REALTORS®
The Pickens County Board serves as a central source of information for our members and our main focus are real estate education, the promotion of professionalism in our industry and representing our REALTOR® members with legislative initiatives to create positive change for the real estate community. Throughout its history, the Pickens County Board has exerted its influence in civic affairs in its capacity of representing a substantial segment of the business community across the Pickens area. The Board has contributed to various charities over the years by hosting fundraisers.
About First Multiple Listing Service
First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS) is the premier data services provider for real estate professionals in Georgia. FMLS was founded in 1957 by a group of Brokers who wanted to share their listings and connect buyers and sellers. Today FMLS is the largest MLS in Georgia & the 4th largest MLS in the United States, serving nearly 54,000 real estate Agents & Brokers. For additional information or to start a discussion about how to partner with FMLS please contact join@fmls.com.