**Georgia Bill Aims to Speed Up Evictions for Nonpaying Hotel Guests**
**ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First)** – A proposed bill in the Georgia legislature seeks to expedite the eviction process for hotel guests who fail to pay or overstay their bookings.
Under current law, a hotel guest can claim tenant rights with a simple verbal statement to hotel owners or law enforcement. This triggers a formal eviction process that can take months or even years, allowing guests to stay without paying. Police are unable to forcibly remove them until the legal process is complete.
**House Bill 183** aims to change that by allowing law enforcement to remove nonpaying guests after five days if the hotel can provide proof of nonpayment.
“We’re not here to provide a free service,” said Chris Hardman of the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association. “A hotel is not an apartment or a long-term residence.”
Hotel owners say this issue has worsened in recent years as more people exploit the legal loophole.
Vik Zaver, whose family has been in the hotel business for four generations, said the current laws create confusion for law enforcement.
“The laws are unclear for many officers,” Zaver explained. “If they can’t help us, who do we call? Our hands are tied, and that’s a frustrating position to be in.”
Zaver also emphasized the safety risks for hotel staff when dealing with guests who refuse to leave. He and Hardman cited cases where hotel employees have been injured or even killed in such situations.
“If we try to remove nonpaying guests ourselves, we expose ourselves to liability,” Zaver said. “We don’t want to take on that risk.”
The bill was tabled during a committee hearing on Tuesday but could soon reach the House floor for a vote. However, opponents argue that it could negatively impact families relying on extended-stay hotels.
State Rep. Stacey Evans (D-Atlanta) expressed concerns about the bill’s potential consequences.
“My priority is ensuring we don’t harm families while addressing those who abuse the system,” Evans said. “I agree there’s a problem, but this bill isn’t the right solution.”
Evans also criticized hotels for not conducting background or credit checks on guests.
“They admitted they don’t do background or credit checks,” she said. “That’s a business risk. If you choose that model and charge higher rates because of it, you shouldn’t expect the government to fix the consequences.”
She suggested that hotels hire private security or off-duty police officers instead of relying on local law enforcement for evictions. However, Hardman argued that many family-run hotels cannot afford such expenses.
“Even when hotels hire off-duty officers, those officers often say they lack the legal authority to remove guests,” Hardman explained. “They still have to call local law enforcement, which restarts the cycle.”
Hardman also pointed out that every room occupied by a squatter reduces availability for paying guests who genuinely need extended-stay lodging.
The debate over House Bill 183 continues as lawmakers weigh the balance between protecting hotel owners and ensuring vulnerable families are not displaced.
*Copyright 2025 WANF. All rights reserved.*
Source: atlantanewsfirst.com