HB1031: HB1031 Landlord and tenant; limitations on increasing rent on residential properties; provide

Georgia law currently does not limit how much a landlord can raise rent when a tenant renews their lease. This bill would add a new section to the state's landlord and tenant law (O.C.G.A. Title 44, Chapter 7) that caps rent increases at 5 percent for a tenant renewing a lease on the same residential property. The cap only applies to lease renewals with the same tenant. If a tenancy ends and no one from the old lease still lawfully occupies the unit, the owner can set a new rent for the next tenant without the 5 percent limit. The bill would take effect July 1, 2026, and would apply to leases entered into or renewed on or after that date.

• Adds a new Georgia Code section (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-26) capping rent increases at 5 percent when a landlord renews an existing tenant's lease.
• Exempts landlords from the 5 percent cap when starting a brand new tenancy after no prior tenant remains in lawful possession of the unit.
• Sets an effective date of July 1, 2026, applying the cap to leases entered into or renewed on or after that date.
• Repeals any existing Georgia laws that conflict with the new rent increase limit.

Residential landlords across Georgia, who would face a new limit on renewal rent increases, and residential tenants renewing leases, who would gain protection against increases above 5 percent. New tenants moving into a vacant unit are not covered by the cap.

Tenants renewing a lease would be protected from large rent hikes, capped at 5 percent per renewal, which could make it easier to budget and stay in place. Landlords would need to plan rent changes within that limit for continuing tenants, though they retain full flexibility once a unit turns over.

• Section 1 adds O.C.G.A. § 44-7-26(a), barring owners of residential property from raising rent more than 5 percent when renewing a tenant's lease.
• Section 1 also adds subsection (b), allowing owners to set rent freely for a new tenancy once no tenant from the prior lease remains in lawful possession.
• Section 2 sets the effective date as July 1, 2026, and applies the cap to leases entered into or renewed on or after that date.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-01-29House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-01-28House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-27House Hopper (House)

• El-Mahdi Holly (D, HD-116)Primary sponsor
• Mekyah McQueen (D, HD-061)
• Eric Bell (D, HD-075)
• Imani Barnes (D, HD-086)
• Sylvia Baker (D, HD-064)
• Robert Flournoy (D, HD-074)

• rent control
• landlord tenant law
• housing affordability
• residential leases