Georgia Landlord-Tenant Law Guide
Georgia's landlord-tenant laws are relatively landlord-friendly, with few statutory requirements beyond security deposit handling and basic habitability standards. However, lease terms and local ordinances may impose additional obligations.
Security Deposit
Limit: No statutory limit on security deposit amounts.
Return Period: 30 days after tenant moves out if no forwarding address provided, or within 30 days of receiving forwarding address. Must include itemized list of deductions.
Rent Increases
60 days notice required for month-to-month tenancies to increase rent or change other lease terms.
Entry Notice
No statutory requirement, but lease should specify reasonable notice terms.
Key Statutes
- Georgia Code §44-7-30 through §44-7-37 - Security Deposits
- Georgia Code §44-7-13 - Warranty of Habitability
- Georgia Code §44-7-7 - Tenant
- ,
- s Right to Terminate
Common Issues
- Failure to return deposits with itemization within 30 days
- Landlords making excessive or unjustified deductions
- Not maintaining basic habitability standards
- Improper eviction procedures
- Not providing proper notice for rent increases
Documents for Georgia
- Georgia security deposit demand letter ($19, cites O.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-34, 44-7-35)
Does this statute apply to you? O.C.G.A. § 44-7-36 exempts most small landlords from the penalty named here. Sections 44-7-31, 44-7-32, 44-7-33 and 44-7-35 “shall not apply to rental units which are owned by a natural person if such natural person, his or her spouse, and his or her minor children collectively own ten or fewer rental units; provided, however, that this exemption does not apply to units for which management, including rent collection, is performed by third persons, natural or otherwise, for a fee.” Section 44-7-34 is not on that list, so the 30-day return and the written itemized list still bind an exempt landlord — but the treble damages of § 44-7-35 do not. Check who owns the unit, how many rentals they hold, and whether a paid manager collects the rent before relying on the 3x figure.