Georgia CommonsHB 1007: Essential Services for Renters Act; enact
Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action January 28, 2026 · Introduced
The text as LegiScan holds it, read from the PDF the legislature publishes with its margin line numbers, running heads, and page footers removed. Line breaks are joined into paragraphs here; no word is changed.
Underlined words are what the bill adds to current law and struck-through words are what it removes, as the printed bill shows them.
House Bill 1007
By: Representatives Berry of the 56th, Frye of the 122nd, Ridley of the 22nd, Sanchez of the 42nd, Bell of the 75th, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 7 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to landlord and tenant, so as to provide residential tenants with the right to complete repairs required by the landlord and offset rental installments by the reasonable cost of such repairs under certain circumstances; to provide residential tenants with the right to terminate a rental agreement under certain circumstances; to provide for definitions; to provide a short title; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Essential Services for Renters Act."
SECTION 2.
Chapter 7 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to landlord and tenant, is amended by revising Code Section 44-7-13, relating to landlord's duties as to repairs and improvements, as follows:
"44-7-13.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Essential service' means any sanitary plumbing or sewer service; electrical service; gas service used for heating, hot water, or cooking; heating, ventilating, and air conditioning service; or hot and cold running water service. Such term includes any fixture or appliance supplied by, or required to be supplied by, the landlord by law or by contract, lease, license, or similar agreement, oral or written.
(2) 'Necessary repair' means any defect within the interior of a tenant's residential unit that requires repair by the landlord under the terms of a contract, lease, license, or similar agreement, oral or written; or to ensure the continuity of an essential service.
(3) 'Premises' means any residential real property rented or leased pursuant to a contract, lease, license, or similar agreement, oral or written, for use as a dwelling place. Such term includes common areas shared with other tenants, including, but not limited to, hallways, lobbies, stairways, elevators, recreational areas, or other shared facilities.
(4) 'Residential unit' means any portion of a premises intended for use as a private dwelling place over which a tenant has exclusive use and possession. Such term shall not include any common areas shared with other tenants, including, but not limited to, hallways, lobbies, stairways, elevators, recreational areas, or other shared facilities. (a)(b) 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)(c) Any contract, lease, license, or similar agreement, oral or written, for the use or rental of real property as a dwelling place any premises is deemed to include a provision that the premises is fit for human habitation, which shall include, but shall not be limited to, compliance with any requirements of applicable building and housing codes affecting health and safety.
(d)(1) If, within 14 days of receiving written notice of a necessary repair, the landlord fails to complete such repair, the tenant may complete the repair through a preapproved licensed professional named in the lease agreement or previously identified by the landlord in a written notice to the tenant or, if no such professional is preapproved by the landlord, through any licensed professional. After the repair is complete, the tenant may reduce the amount of the next rental installment due by the cost of such repair; provided, however, that the tenant shall submit receipts for the repair to the landlord. If such repair costs exceed the amount of the rental installment due, the tenant may reduce subsequent rental installments until such costs are recovered. No tenant shall reduce any rental installment for a repair made pursuant to this paragraph in an amount greater than the reasonable cost of such repair. Before completing a necessary repair affecting facilities shared by more than one residential unit, the tenant shall notify all other tenants sharing such facilities of the plans for the repair and shall arrange the repair so as to create the least practicable inconvenience to the other tenants.
(2) If, within 60 days of receiving written notice of a necessary repair, the landlord fails to complete such repair, the tenant may, after 30 days' written notice to the landlord, terminate the lease, provided that the tenant has not started or completed such repair pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(3) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a necessary repair caused by the intentional or negligent acts or omissions of a tenant."
SECTION 3.
This Act shall apply to residential rental or lease agreements that are entered into on or after July 1, 2026, and to any renewals, modifications, or extensions of such agreements entered into on or after such date.
SECTION 4.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.