25 LC 48 1552
House Bill 708
By: Representatives Adesanya of the 43
rd
, Cummings of the 39
th
, and Lim of the 98
th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 7 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
1
landlord and tenant, so as to provide for the deduction of the costs of certain repairs from2
rental payments; to revise the time required for answers; to revise provisions concerning the3
effectiveness of writs of possession; to provide for a short title; to provide for applicability;4
to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6
SECTION 1.7
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Renters' Bill of Rights Act."8
SECTION 2.9
Chapter 7 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to landlord and10
tenant, is amended by adding a new subsection to Code Section 44-7-13, relating to11
landlord's duties as to repairs and improvements, to read as follows:12
"(c) If a landlord does not adequately respond to a tenant's request for repairs within five
13
days of receiving such request and such repairs are the responsibility of the landlord14
pursuant to this Code section, the tenant may complete such repairs through a preapproved15
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licensed professional, who shall be named in the lease agreement or identified by the16
landlord at the time the premises is rented, or through any licensed professional if no such17
professional is preapproved by the landlord. After the work is completed, the tenant may18
deduct the cost of such repairs from the next rental installment due; provided, however, that19
the amount of such deduction shall not exceed 50 percent of such installment and the tenant20
shall submit receipts of the work completed to the landlord to qualify for such rent21
deduction. If such repair costs exceed 50 percent of the rental installment, the tenant may22
deduct such costs from subsequent rental installments until such costs are recovered,23
provided that no deduction exceeds 50 percent of any rental installment."24
SECTION 3.25
Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 44-7-51, relating to issuance of summons,26
service, time for answer, and defenses and counterclaims, by revising subsection (b) as27
follows:28
"(b) The summons served on the defendant pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section29
shall command and require the tenant to answer either orally or in writing within seven30
14 days from the date of the actual service unless the seventh fourteenth day is a Saturday,31
a Sunday, or a legal holiday, in which case the answer may be made on the next day which32
is not a Saturday, a Sunday, or a legal holiday. If the answer is oral, the substance thereof33
shall be endorsed on the dispossessory affidavit. The answer may contain any legal or34
equitable defense or counterclaim. The landlord need not appear on the date of the tenant's35
response. The last possible date to answer shall be stated on the summons."36
SECTION 4.37
Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 44-7-52, relating to when tender of payment38
by tenant serves as a complete defense, by revising subsection (a) as follows:39
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"(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section, in an action for nonpayment
40
of rent, the tenant shall be allowed to tender to the landlord, within seven
14 days of the41
day the tenant was served with the summons pursuant to Code Section 44-7-51, all rents42
allegedly owed plus the cost of the dispossessory warrant. Such a tender shall be a43
complete defense to the action; provided, however, that a landlord is required to accept44
such a tender from any individual tenant after the issuance of a dispossessory summons45
only once in any 12 month period."46
SECTION 5.47
Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 44-7-55, relating to judgement, writ of48
possession, landlord's liability for wrongful conduct, distribution of funds paid into court, and49
personal property, by revising subsection (a) as follows:50
"(a) If, on the trial of the case, the judgment is against the tenant, judgment shall be entered51
against the tenant for all rents due and for any other claim relating to the dispute. The court52
shall issue a writ of possession, both of execution for the judgment amount and a writ to53
be effective at the expiration of seven 14 days after the date such judgment was entered,54
except as otherwise provided in Code Section 44-7-56."55
SECTION 6.56
This Act shall apply to residential lease agreements that are entered into or renewed on or57
after July 1, 2025.58
SECTION 7.59
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.60
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