I am an owner/landlord about to file my first eviction on a tenant. I know the process that I must demand the property and do a dispossesory notice. But during the actual eviction process, I was told that when the marshall and I show up at the property, I get possession of the property. I was also told that I have to remove the tenant's belonging carefully and I cannot damage their stuff when I move it out. If I have possession of the property, I do not understand why I cannot simply show up, change the locks and deal with belongings left behind at a later date. Can anyone explain this?

I was also told that I have to remove the tenant's belonging carefully and I cannot damage their stuff when I move it out. If I have possession of the property, I do not understand why I cannot simply show up, change the locks and deal with belongings left behind at a later date. Can anyone explain this?

Who told this? This site: Evictions (Georgia) (http://www.consumer-sos.com/Georgia/Landlord_&_Tenant/evictions.htm) says that: "The landlord has no legal obligation to protect the personal property of a former tenant being evicted."

You have to remember that a tenant also has rights. You have no right to keep their property which is what you would be doing by changing the locks.

It sounds like you are in the beginning stages of the eviction process. So this may all become moot. An eviction rarely goes to physical removal.

In Georgia you have to remove the property of the renter when the court marshall shows up. And you have to do it somewhat quickly, Most landlords pay professional movers to do this,
In fact there are companies in atlanta that do nothing but move out eviction people.