CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - People who live in Chatham County’s Ogeechee Farms neighborhood say they’re fed up as squatters have overtaken two homes on the block.

WTOC Investigates has found a loophole in Georgia law is keeping one of the properties out of the reach for law enforcement.

The Squatter Reform Act was signed into law in Georgia last year, making squatting a misdemeanor offense and giving law enforcement the power to issue citations and remove squatters within three days if they have a signed affidavit from the owner of the property. None of that is possible if the owner of a home is dead.

“They’re driving down the property values, there’s drug activity, there’s people coming and going in the middle of the night, all hours of the day,” say Ed Smith.

Smith lives on Sylvani

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