Kyle Sweetland finds rise in squatting civil cases in Georgia and New York
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Apr 30
Kyle Sweetland finds rise in squatting civil cases in Georgia and New York
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Apr 30
His analysis found Georgia cases rose from three in 2017 to 198 in 2023, while high-profile incidents are increasing nationwide.
The report says squatters move into homes without buying or renting them, sometimes using fake documents or intimidation to remain.
Police often treat complaints as civil matters, leaving owners to navigate backlogged courts and potentially costly, lengthy efforts to remove occupants.
As states fast-track squatter removals, how are legitimate tenants protected from wrongful eviction?
When convicted squatters return home after jail, are new laws failing to protect property owners?
With police hands tied in civil disputes, what can homeowners do to prevent a hostile takeover of their property?