As of July 1st, 2025, there are some new laws in Georgia. And importantly, there’s a new Georgia landlord-tenant law that you should know about: House Bill 404. Keep scrolling and we’ll break it down for ya!
What is House Bill 404?
House Bill 404, also known as the ‘Safe at Home Act’ reads as follows:
To amend Chapter 7 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to landlord and tenant, so as to provide for a duty of habitability for certain rental agreements; to provide for notice; to provide for a maximum security deposit amount; to provide for a short title; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
In other, more digestible words, renters have more rights and protections around their living conditions. Here’s how it breaks down:
1. Minimum habitability standards
Here’s what the bill says:
(a) The landlord shall keep the premises in repair and shall be liable for all substantial improvements placed upon the premises by such landlord’s consent. (b) Any contract, lease, license, or similar agreement, oral or written, for the use or rental of real property as a dwelling place is deemed to include a provision that the premises is fit for human habitation.
In other words… landlords are now required by law to keep their properties completely free from any and all health and safety risks, and they must address maintenance issues in a timely manner to ensure the safety of tenants.
And if your landlord doesn’t keep the premises “fit for human habitation”? Renters can sue or take other legal action.
2. Security deposit maximums are now capped two months rent
Here’s what the bill says:
No landlord shall demand or receive a security deposit in an amount that exceeds the equivalent of two months’ rent.
This one is pretty self-explanatory. But in other words, landlords can’t charge an exorbitant security deposit that goes over two months’ rent.
3. Landlords have to give more notice on Eviction
Here’s what the bill says:
In all cases when a tenant fails to pay the rent, late fees, utilities, or other charges owed to the landlord when it becomes due, if the tenant refuses to pay the amount due or fails to deliver possession when so demanded after being provided with a notice to vacate or pay all past due rent, late fees, utilities, and other charges owed to the landlord within three business days, the owner or the agent, attorney at law, or attorney in fact of such owner may immediately go before the judge of the superior court, the judge of the state court, or the clerk or deputy clerk of either court, or the judge or the clerk or deputy clerk of any other court with jurisdiction over the subject matter, or a magistrate in the district where the land lies and make an affidavit under oath to the facts. Such affidavit may likewise be made before a notary public. (d) The demand for possession notice under subsection (a) of this Code section or the three-day notice to vacate or pay under subsection (c) of this Code section shall be posted in a sealed envelope conspicuously on the door of the property and delivered via any additional method or methods agreed upon in the rental agreement.
In other words,
Fox5 Atlanta breaks it down like this: “Mandatory three-day written notice: Landlords must now provide tenants with a written eviction notice at least three days before filing for eviction due to nonpayment of rent (previously, landlords could file immediately after a late notice).”
As always, if you’ve got more questions, you can visit the Georgia General Assembly’s website, here!
Make sure you always read your lease carefully and know your rights, Atlanta!
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