HB 687: Property; landlord and tenant; security deposits; provisions

Georgia law already requires landlords to give tenants a written list of existing damage to a rental unit before the tenant hands over a security deposit, so both sides have a record of the property's condition going in. This bill adds a new requirement to that same process: the list given to the tenant must also itemize all fees tied to the tenant's lease. The change is made to O.C.G.A. § 44-7-33, the code section covering damage lists, landlord inspections at move-out, and a tenant's right to dispute the list. Everything else in that section stays the same, including the tenant's right to inspect the premises, the requirement that both landlord and tenant sign the list, and the process for a tenant to write down disagreements before signing. The bill does not set an effective date beyond the standard process, and it repeals any conflicting laws.

• Requires landlords to itemize all fees connected to a tenant's lease as part of the pre-move-in disclosure document.
• Keeps the existing requirement that landlords give tenants a written list of existing property damage before collecting a security deposit.
• Leaves unchanged the tenant's right to inspect the unit and dispute items on the list before signing.
• Repeals any other Georgia laws that conflict with this new disclosure requirement.

Landlords and property managers who collect security deposits from residential tenants in Georgia, and tenants who sign leases and pay deposits, since both parties must review and sign the expanded disclosure list before move-in.

Tenants would get a clearer, written breakdown of fees tied to their lease before they pay a deposit, which could reduce disputes over surprise charges. Landlords would need to update their move-in paperwork to include this itemized fee list.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 44-7-33(a) to add a requirement that the pre-deposit disclosure list include an itemization of all fees associated with the tenant's lease.
• The existing damage-list requirement, tenant inspection rights, and signature/dissent process in that same subsection remain unchanged.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting state laws.

1. 2025-03-04House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-03-03House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-28House Hopper (House)

• Omari Crawford (D, HD-89)Primary sponsor
• Mary Margaret Oliver (D, HD-84)
• Inga Willis (D, HD-55)
• Saira Draper (D, HD-90)
• Spencer Frye (D, HD-122)

• security deposits
• landlord tenant law
• rental fees
• housing