Under the new Georgia law, suspected squatters will immediately receive a criminal citation and have three days to produce a valid lease. If the lease is found to be fraudulent, the offense escalates from a misdemeanor to a felony.
However, not all local police departments are implementing the new regulations as swiftly as South Fulton, according to recent checks.
Another significant aspect of the new law is that the reporting of suspected squatters is no longer limited to homeowners. Neighbors and homeowner associations (HOAs) can now also contact the police to report suspected squatters.