General information, not legal advice. Landlord-tenant rules change, and cities and counties can add their own. Check the current statute and local ordinances, and talk to a licensed attorney before you act.
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The short version
- The landlord must return the deposit, minus lawful deductions, within one month after the tenancy ends and the tenant gives up possession.
- The landlord generally must keep the premises in repair, and since 2024 the home must be fit for human habitation; tenant remedies are largely set by the lease and court decisions.
- A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant who in good faith reported code violations, asked for repairs or joined a tenant group, and a tenant can raise retaliation as a defense and seek damages.
Georgia landlord and tenant rules sit in Title 44, Chapter 7 of the Official Code of Georgia. The state long had few tenant protections, and recent laws added a retaliation ban in 2019 and habitability and deposit rules in 2024.
Georgia landlord-tenant rights at a glance
| Rule | Georgia | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Tenant repair remedies | The landlord generally must keep the premises in repair, and since 2024 the home must be fit for human habitation; tenant remedies are largely set by the lease and court decisions. | Official Code of Georgia, Title 44 Chapter 7 (as amended by HB 404, 2024) |
| Retaliation protection | A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant who in good faith reported code violations, asked for repairs or joined a tenant group, and a tenant can raise retaliation as a defense and seek damages. | Official Code of Georgia, Title 44 Chapter 7 (retaliation, HB 346 of 2019) |
| Deadline to return the deposit | The landlord must return the deposit, minus lawful deductions, within one month after the tenancy ends and the tenant gives up possession. | O.C.G.A. section 44-7-34 |
Repairs and habitability
Every residential tenancy comes with a duty to keep the home safe and livable. Put repair requests in writing and keep a dated record of each step.
Tenant repair remedies. The landlord generally must keep the premises in repair, and since 2024 the home must be fit for human habitation; tenant remedies are largely set by the lease and court decisions. (Official Code of Georgia, Title 44 Chapter 7 (as amended by HB 404, 2024))
Entry and privacy
We could not confirm a statewide rule here. Check your county court or a local attorney.
Retaliation
Retaliation protection. A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant who in good faith reported code violations, asked for repairs or joined a tenant group, and a tenant can raise retaliation as a defense and seek damages. (Official Code of Georgia, Title 44 Chapter 7 (retaliation, HB 346 of 2019))
Rent, late fees and grace periods
We could not confirm a statewide rule here. Check your county court or a local attorney.
Applications and screening
Federal fair housing law applies everywhere: apply the same written criteria to every applicant, and never screen on a protected characteristic.
Screening rules. Screening must follow the federal Fair Housing Act and the Georgia Fair Housing Act, which bar discrimination based on protected characteristics. (Georgia Fair Housing Act and federal Fair Housing Act)
Disclosures to include with the lease
Disclosures are easiest to get right at lease signing. Other disclosures may also be required by your city or by the property itself, so check before you sign.
Required disclosures. Homes built before 1978 need the federal lead-based paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet. (Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (42 U.S.C. 4852d))
Required disclosures. Before signing, the landlord generally must disclose in writing if the living space or attached areas have flooded at least three times in the past five years. (Official Code of Georgia, Title 44 Chapter 7 (flooding disclosure))
Required disclosures. The landlord generally must tell the tenant in writing who owns the property, or their agent, and who is authorized to manage it. (Official Code of Georgia, Title 44 Chapter 7 (owner and agent disclosure))
Security deposits in brief
Deposit limit. For leases covered by the 2024 law, a security deposit generally may not exceed two months of rent. (Safe at Home Act (HB 404, 2024))
Deadline to return the deposit. The landlord must return the deposit, minus lawful deductions, within one month after the tenancy ends and the tenant gives up possession. (O.C.G.A. section 44-7-34)
Mistakes to avoid
- Entering a unit without the notice the lease or the law requires.
- Letting a written repair request sit without a reply or a plan.
- Leaving required disclosures out of the lease packet.
- Applying screening criteria differently from one applicant to the next.
- Raising rent or ending a tenancy soon after a complaint without a documented, unrelated reason.
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General information, not legal advice.
Verify current law
We last checked these Georgia rules on . Laws change and cities can add their own, so confirm the current text before you rely on it, and talk to a Georgia attorney about your situation.
Laws named on this page
- Official Code of Georgia, Title 44 Chapter 7 (as amended by HB 404, 2024)
- Official Code of Georgia, Title 44 Chapter 7 (retaliation, HB 346 of 2019)
- O.C.G.A. section 44-7-34
- Georgia Fair Housing Act and federal Fair Housing Act
- Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (42 U.S.C. 4852d)
- Official Code of Georgia, Title 44 Chapter 7 (flooding disclosure)
- Official Code of Georgia, Title 44 Chapter 7 (owner and agent disclosure)
- Safe at Home Act (HB 404, 2024)
Official sources
Georgia forms for this topic
Letters and checklists for this topic
Before you act on it. Check the statute too; this is not legal advice.
What can a Georgia tenant do if repairs are not made?
The landlord generally must keep the premises in repair, and since 2024 the home must be fit for human habitation; tenant remedies are largely set by the lease and court decisions. Source: Official Code of Georgia, Title 44 Chapter 7 (as amended by HB 404, 2024).
What counts as retaliation in Georgia?
A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant who in good faith reported code violations, asked for repairs or joined a tenant group, and a tenant can raise retaliation as a defense and seek damages. Source: Official Code of Georgia, Title 44 Chapter 7 (retaliation, HB 346 of 2019).