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AN empty rental home was taken over by party-throwing squatters and police couldn’t help the neighbors’ calls for help.
Lower Creek Circle homeowners Toney Wells and Ricky Morris from Lithonia, Georgia, 18 miles east of Atlanta, said their peaceful neighborhood was disturbed by the squatters’ bold decision.
Wells and Morris said the squatters were in the home for 14 months and would get in through the back door.
“They come in through the back,” Morris told Lincoln.
The squatters would cause chaos in and outside of the home after inviting tons of people over.
Cars from all their visitors were piling up in the front yard of the home.
The surrounding neighbors did not enjoy the disturbances.
“It’s been a nightmare actually,” Morris said.
“When you’re having wild parties and people are actually parking on the yard.”
COMPLICATIONS
The rental company, Progress Residential, was aware of the situation but certain laws in place make it hard to remove squatters that take over a home.
This also makes it hard for police to immediately be able to remove squatters.
The police were called to remove the squatters but they were unable to do so for months.
“We’ve called the police,” Morris said.
“I know, myself, five times.”
Wells added, “The police can’t do anything and you can’t protect nobody with this situation.”
Finally, the Marshalls were called in and were able to remove the squatters.
But Wells said he is still disappointed over how long is it took for the situation to be handled because he feels he is paying to live in a safe neighborhood.
“You pay for a good neighborhood, you expect a good neighborhood,” Wells said.
COMMON ISSUE
Progress Residential has now hired security to monitor vacant rentals for squatters and said, “The safety and security of our residents, team members, and the communities we serve is always a top priority.”
“We are continuing to monitor this home and have responded to all security concerns related to the property.”
Attorney Jim Burling who is vice president of legal affairs for Pacific Legal Foundation explained why it is complicated to kick squatters out of a home they don’t own.
Georgia’s squatters rights
A squatter can claim adverse possession of a property in Georgia if they meet certain requirements.
To claim legal possession or ownership of a unit you need the following.
20 years of continuous possession of the property or seven years with the color of title.
If can prove continuous possession then you have the right to gain property ownership.
“I think it’s a fairly big problem and I think it’s pretty hard to avoid,” Burling told Fox News in 2023.
“If somebody is living in a home and saying ‘Hey, I signed a lease, I’m paying rent, I have a right to be here,’
“Whether or not that’s true the police hear that story then they hear a story of somebody who’s not living there and saying ‘this is my place these people don’t belong here.’’
“The police officer can’t make that legal determination.”
