Georgia Landlord-Tenant Guide — Rights & Rules

Receiving an official notice starts a legal clock that directly affects your rights. In Georgia, you have 3 business days days to cure a nonpayment notice by paying in full. Similarly, for lease violations, Georgia requires 0 days’ notice but does not require the landlord to let you cure the violation. If you recently exercised a legal right (requesting repairs, reporting code violations), retaliation is prohibited and presumed if the landlord acts within 3 months. Even under a valid notice, your landlord cannot change locks, remove belongings, or shut off utilities — that is illegal self-help and carries a penalty of actual damages, injunctive relief, attorney fees. Do not ignore any notice — even if you believe it is defective, responding within the deadline preserves your ability to raise defenses in court.

Eviction in Georgia is called dispossessory proceeding. A landlord cannot remove a tenant without going through court — Self-help eviction (changing locks, removing belongings, shutting off utilities) is prohibited §44-7-14.1.

For nonpayment of rent, the landlord must provide 3 business days days' written notice §44-7-50. Tenants have 3 business days days to cure (pay) after receiving a nonpayment notice §44-7-50.

For lease violations, 0 days' notice is required §44-7-50.

Georgia's security deposit limit is a statutory cap applies — confirm the current limit with a lawyer. After move-out, the landlord has set by statute — confirm the current deadline with a lawyer days to return the deposit with an itemized list of deductions.

Georgia recognizes an implied Warranty of habitability §44-7-13(b). Landlords must maintain the property in a condition fit for human habitation, including running water, heat, cooling, electricity, sanitation, structural integrity.

The landlord has 30 days to make repairs after receiving written notice. Georgia does not allow repair-and-deduct — tenants must pursue other remedies such as lease termination or court action.

Retaliatory eviction is prohibited §44-7-24. Retaliation is presumed if the landlord takes adverse action within 3 months of the tenant exercising a legal right.

Self-help eviction is illegal. If a landlord changes your locks, removes your belongings, or shuts off utilities, the penalty is actual damages, injunctive relief, attorney fees §44-7-14.1.

Landlord-tenant cases are often decided on notice periods and deadlines. Missing a deadline — whether it is responding to a notice, filing an answer, or requesting a hearing — can result in losing rights that would otherwise be available. Preserving written evidence (photos, texts, emails, receipts) is critical.