Georgia eviction rules for tenants

Notice for unpaid rent

For leases signed or renewed on or after July 1, 2024 (Safe at Home Act): before filing for unpaid rent, the landlord must give you a written notice to pay all past-due rent, late fees, utilities and other charges or move out within 3 business days. The notice must be posted on your door in a sealed envelope and also delivered by any other method your lease names. After you are served with the eviction, you may still stop a nonpayment case once in any 12 months by paying all rent, fees and court costs within 7 days ('tender' defense). O.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-50(c), (d), 44-7-52.

Notice for a lease violation

No statutory cure period. The landlord must demand possession (orally or in writing) before filing; follow any notice terms in your lease.

Ending a month-to-month tenancy

Tenancy-at-will (including month-to-month without a lease): the landlord must give 60 days' notice to end it or change the rent; the tenant must give 30 days' notice. O.C.G.A. § 44-7-7.

Time to respond to an eviction lawsuit

7 days after you are served with the dispossessory affidavit (if the 7th day is a weekend or holiday, the next business day). Answer orally or in writing and include all defenses and counterclaims. If the case is not decided within 2 weeks of service, you must pay rent into court. O.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-51, 44-7-54. Since July 1, 2025 (HB 270, the 'Eviction Service Act'), the eviction papers may also be served by an approved private process server, not only a sheriff or constable; if no one is home, they can be posted on your door and mailed the same day.

Lockouts and utility shutoffs

The landlord must go through the court dispossessory process; changing the locks or putting you out without a court order is illegal, and during an eviction case it is illegal for the landlord to knowingly and willfully cut off heat, cooling, light or water before the judge decides. (Georgia Landlord-Tenant Handbook; O.C.G.A. § 44-7-14.1.)

Court self-help

The court's eviction self-help page

Law

O.C.G.A. §§ 44-7-7, 44-7-14.1, 44-7-50 to 44-7-55

The landlord may not retaliate because you asked for repairs, organized or joined a tenant group about health or safety, filed a good-faith code complaint with a government agency, or tried to enforce your rights under the lease or law. If within 3 months the landlord files an eviction, cuts off access, reduces services, raises rent, ends the lease, or materially interferes with your rights, retaliation is presumed unless the landlord shows a lawful reason. Remedy: one month's rent plus $500, court costs and possibly attorney fees, minus any amount you owe. Evictions for unpaid rent, serious misconduct or holding over are allowed. O.C.G.A. § 44-7-24.

Notice of a rent increase

Tenancy-at-will: 60 days' notice of a rent increase. During a lease, rent can be raised only if the lease allows it. (Georgia Landlord-Tenant Handbook.)

Rent control

No statewide rent control or rent cap.