The abolition of police-assisted evictions has left hundreds of property owners facing lengthy court proceedings to remove non-compliant tenants or unlawful occupants, according to legal experts. Speaking to BM.GE, GLG Legal Director Lasha Mchedlidze said many eviction cases remain unresolved for years due to court backlogs, with some first-instance hearings still not scheduled after two to three years.
Mchedlidze said the problem affects several types of disputes, including tenants refusing to vacate rented property, former owners remaining in homes after a sale, and individuals occupying property without any legal basis. He argued that the current system allows bad-faith occupants to exploit lengthy judicial procedures while continuing to use the property without compensation.
The lawyer proposes introducing an out-of-court enforcement mechanism by allowing lease agreements to be registered with the National Bureau of Enforcement. Under such a model, the bureau would be able to issue enforceable eviction orders without requiring court proceedings, similar to the existing system for certain notarized financial obligations.
According to Mchedlidze, the reform would both strengthen property rights and encourage landlords to formally register lease agreements and pay the applicable 5% income tax on residential rentals. A similar proposal was prepared by Georgia's Ministry of Justice two years ago but has yet to be submitted for adoption. Meanwhile, legal experts say property owners remain exposed to prolonged legal disputes and enforcement delays.
