Uploaded July 2017 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Atlanta, Georgia (WSBTV) A Cobb County woman is filled with frustration after she says strangers moved into the vacant house she was selling without her knowledge.
Getting them out is tougher than you might think.
Channel 2's Ross Cavitt talked to both sides of this problem and found out important information for homeowners.
Dena Everman couldn't believe it and can't believe the situation she is in.
After finding someone living in her home, and a broken window in the back, she assumed a quick call to the police would clear out the trespassers.
"I found out in the past week there is some archaic law that says if someone sets up residence in your home, it doesn't matter how they get in there they have rights until we evict them,” Everman said.
Tamera Pritchett is living in the East Cobb home with her fiancé and two kids.
She says the family found it listed for rent on Craigslist, they signed a lease by fax, paid their rent via money order, never saw the ad poster and only learned there was a problem when Everman called the police.
The next day she went to the courthouse where she says deputies told her she could stay.
"And they told us until these people come and forcibly evict us they can't force us out on our rights," Pritchett said.
Pritchett says the family is looking for another place to move, but admits for now they're staying.
"We're not just trying to stay in your home and hold you up on your sale. But at the same time, we just spent $3,000 -- that's not something we can just pull out and immediately move somewhere else, you know,” Pritchett said.
Everman is mad, she may lose the pending sale on her house, and tells me her posts on her situation have generated anger.
Read more here: wsbtv.com/news/local/cobb-county/woman-finds-strangers-living-in-home-and-now-she-cant-get-them-out/550775721
Atlanta, Georgia (WSBTV) A Cobb County woman is filled with frustration after she says strangers moved into the vacant house she was selling without her knowledge.
Getting them out is tougher than you might think.
Channel 2's Ross Cavitt talked to both sides of this problem and found out important information for homeowners.
Dena Everman couldn't believe it and can't believe the situation she is in.
After finding someone living in her home, and a broken window in the back, she assumed a quick call to the police would clear out the trespassers.
"I found out in the past week there is some archaic law that says if someone sets up residence in your home, it doesn't matter how they get in there they have rights until we evict them,” Everman said.
Tamera Pritchett is living in the East Cobb home with her fiancé and two kids.
She says the family found it listed for rent on Craigslist, they signed a lease by fax, paid their rent via money order, never saw the ad poster and only learned there was a problem when Everman called the police.
The next day she went to the courthouse where she says deputies told her she could stay.
"And they told us until these people come and forcibly evict us they can't force us out on our rights," Pritchett said.
Pritchett says the family is looking for another place to move, but admits for now they're staying.
"We're not just trying to stay in your home and hold you up on your sale. But at the same time, we just spent $3,000 -- that's not something we can just pull out and immediately move somewhere else, you know,” Pritchett said.
Everman is mad, she may lose the pending sale on her house, and tells me her posts on her situation have generated anger.
Read more here: wsbtv.com/news/local/cobb-county/woman-finds-strangers-living-in-home-and-now-she-cant-get-them-out/550775721
