Georgia's web site guide to free legal information and legal services.

Housing >  View All Subtopics   Read information about your legal rights. There are 190 resources     Page 1 of 4 Basic Landlord Tenant Law   Your Rights and Responsibilities      Georgia Landlord Tenant Handbook, Ninth Edition, April 2005 This Handbook is designed to answer common residential landlord-tenant questions relating to the following topics: Rental Property and the Law, Lead Paint Disclosure Requirement, Leases and Rental Agreements, Lease Termination and Renewal. Military Servicemembers as Tenants, Security Deposits, Rent Payments and Other Charges, Repairs and Maintenance, Evictions and the Dispossessory Process, Questions Asked About Fair Housing. This booklet was first prepared and published in November of 1985. This ninth edition was madepossible by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs through a contract with Georgia Legal Services Program. By: Georgia Legal Services Program®             Information for Tenants Many people who rent a place to live do not have a basic knowledge of the duties and rights involved. If there is a written lease, it will describe some of the duties of the tenant. A written lease will also explain some of the duties of the landlord. Even if there is not a written lease, tenants and landlords have the legal duties to each other. By: Elder Law Committee of State Bar of Georgia     Read this in: Korean / 한국어           Rent Payments (Answers to Common Questions) This document answers common questions about a tenant's rights and obligations in connection with rent payments. By: Georgia Legal Services Program®             Rental Property Management and the Law (Separate Website) This webpage contains basic legal information about the management of residential rental property in Georgia. By: Georgia Department of Community Affairs           Renting a Home This document describes the basic rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants, excerpted from An Introduction to Law in Georgia, Fourth Edition, published by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, 1998 (updated 2004). By: Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia     Read this in: Spanish / Español           Brochure on Fair Housing Laws The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race or color, national origin, religion, sex , familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians; pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18), and handicap (disability).     Other Formats:   WPD File           Repairs to Rental Property Landlords are responsible for keeping their rental property in good repair. If the condition of the rental property changes from its condition at the time the tenant moved-in, the landlord must repair the structure or thing to its original condition. Even if you do not have a written lease your landlord is obligated under state law to make repairs. Any lease provision which makes the tenant responsible for repairs is challengeable under Georgia law. A landlord is also responsible for meeting all local ordinances and minimum safety standards. By: Georgia Legal Services Program®       Other Formats:   WPD File           How does a landlord remove a tenant in a dispossessory action? (Separate Website) A brief audio presentation ... By: Georgia Legal Services Program®             What is a security deposit, and why do I have to pay it? (Separate Website) A brief audio explanation .. By: Georgia Legal Services Program®             My landlord is not making repairs as he should. What can I do? (Separate Website) A brief audio explanation ... By: Georgia Legal Services Program®             What if the landlord refuses to give back the security deposit even though the tenant deserves to have the money refunded? (Separate Website) A brief audio explanation ... By: Georgia Legal Services Program®             When can a landlord remove a tenant? (Separate Website) A brief audio explanation ... By: Georgia Legal Services Program®          back to top           Lease Termination and Renewal      Early Termination of a Lease (Answers to Common Questions) This document contains the answers to common questions about terminating a lease earlier than what is written in the lease contract. By: Georgia Legal Services Program®             What Happens to Tenants When the Property They Are Renting Is Foreclosed? This document describes tenants' rights when the mortgage by their landlord on the property they are renting from the landlord has been foreclosed. By: Georgia Legal Services Program®       Other Formats:   HTML        back to top           Related Information      Georgia State Fire Code (Separate Website) This Georgia State Minimum Standard Code (the International Fire Code) establishes regulations affecting or relating to structures, processes and premises and safeguards from the hazards of fire and explosion arising from the storage, handling or use of structures, materials or devices; from conditions hazardous to life, property or public welfare in the occupancy of structures or premises; and from fire hazards in the structure or on the premise from occupancy or operation. It also applies to the construction, extension, repair, alteration or removal of fire suppression and alarm systems. By: Georgia.gov           Life Skills for Homeowners and Renters Whether you own your own home or rent a house or apartment, there are a number of things you need to know and do to protect yourself from things like eviction, foreclosure, or overpaying for services. This guide sets out a number of life skills that you need to keep in mind in your daily business. By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society       Read this in: Spanish / Español           Rental Property and Satellite Dishes and other Antennas Federal law prohibits restrictions that keep you from installing, maintaining or using antennas to receive video programming. This rule applies to owned property and to rental property where the renter has exclusive use of the area in which the antenna is installed, such as a balcony or patio. The rule also applies to antennas that receive and transmit fixed wireless signals as long as the antennas meet size limitations on property that they own or rent. By: Georgia Legal Services Program®             Repairs to Rented Property (Answers to Common Questions) This document answers common questions about getting repairs made to property that you are renting. By: Georgia Legal Services Program®             What is a Landlord Tenant Relationship? This documents answers common questions about landlord and tenant relationships and rights. By: Georgia Legal Services Program®             Why is the Lease Important? This documents provides basic information about what leases are, the ways a lease protects the tenant and the important issues that residential lease should cover. By: Georgia Legal Services Program®