Georgia Residential Lease Agreement Template

What a residential lease agreement covers

• Parties, premises and term
• Rent, due date and late fees
• Security deposit amount and return
• Maintenance and repair responsibilities
• Pets, guests and use restrictions
• Entry and notice rules
• Required state and federal disclosures

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Frequently asked questions

What did Georgia's Safe at Home Act change for leases?

For leases entered or renewed on or after July 1, 2024, security deposits generally may not exceed two months' rent. The Act also added an express duty for landlords to keep the home fit for habitation, so your lease and maintenance practices should reflect that obligation.

Do small Georgia landlords need a move-in damage list and escrow account?

Generally, before accepting a deposit you must give the tenant a list of existing damage to sign, and hold deposits in an escrow account at a state or federally regulated bank, telling the tenant where. Landlords with 10 or fewer units managed without an agent are exempt from some of these rules.

When must a Georgia landlord disclose flooding?

If the property has flooded at least three times in the past five years causing damage, you must disclose that in writing before the lease is signed. Including the disclosure with your lease paperwork creates a record that the tenant received it at the right time.

How much can I charge for a security deposit?

Many states cap deposits — often at one or two months' rent — and set a deadline for returning them with an itemized list of deductions. The cap and deadline vary by state.

What disclosures does a lease need?

Federal law requires a lead-based paint disclosure for most housing built before 1978. States add their own, such as mold, flood zone, bed bugs or the deposit's bank location.

Can I just use a national lease template?

Risky. Lease law is mostly state and local, and a clause that's fine in one state can be void — or carry penalties — in another.