HB1188: HB1188 Commerce and trade; encourage transparency and fairness with respect to rent pricing for residential properties

Georgia's consumer protection law, the Fair Business Practices Act of 1975 (O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393), currently does not specifically address how landlords price rent. This bill adds a new section making it illegal for a landlord to sign a rental agreement or accept payment before clearly disclosing the total rental price, meaning all fees and charges a renter must pay, including mandatory fees and government fees like taxes. It also bans hidden fees, defined broadly to include fees that are excessive, charged for services not actually provided, tied to legally required services, tied to forcing use of a preferred vendor, or not spelled out in the lease. The bill covers houses, apartments, hotels, inns, and vacation or short-term rentals. Landlords could still enforce lease penalties like early termination fees, but only if those are spelled out in the agreement and not excessive. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it and would apply to rental agreements, renewals, and extensions signed after that date.

• Adds a new violation to Georgia's Fair Business Practices Act (O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393) for failing to follow the new rent pricing rules.
• Requires landlords to clearly disclose the total rental price, meaning all fees a renter must pay, before signing a lease or accepting payment.
• Bans landlords from charging hidden fees, defined to include excessive fees, fees for services not provided, and fees not written into the lease.
• Defines residential property broadly to include houses, apartments, hotels, inns, and short-term or vacation rentals.
• Allows landlords to still collect damages for lease violations like early termination, as long as those terms are spelled out in the lease and not excessive.
• Applies only to rental agreements, renewals, or extensions signed on or after the bill's effective date.

Landlords and property managers renting houses, apartments, hotels, inns, and short-term or vacation rentals in Georgia would face new disclosure and fee rules. Renters and hotel guests would gain new protections regarding upfront pricing and hidden fees.

Renters would know the full cost of housing before signing a lease, since landlords could no longer add surprise fees after the fact. Landlords would need to review their fee structures and lease language to make sure every charge is disclosed upfront and clearly justified.

• Section 1 adds failure to comply with the new rent pricing rules as an unlawful practice under O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.
• Section 2 creates new Code Section 10-1-393.22, defining key terms like 'hidden fees,' 'total rental price,' 'mandatory fee,' and 'residential property.'
• Section 2(b) makes it illegal to enter a rental agreement or accept payment before disclosing the total rental price, and bans hidden fees.
• Section 2(c) preserves a landlord's ability to pursue remedies for lease violations, provided those remedies are written into the agreement and not excessive.
• Section 3 sets the effective date as the date the Governor signs the bill or it otherwise becomes law, applying to agreements signed after that date.

1. 2026-02-06House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-05House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-04House Hopper (House)

• Gabriel Sanchez (D, HD-042)Primary sponsor
• Dale Washburn (R, HD-144)
• Spencer Frye (D, HD-122)
• Phil Olaleye (D, HD-059)
• Mary Oliver (D, HD-084)
• El-Mahdi Holly (D, HD-116)

• rent pricing
• landlord tenant law
• consumer protection
• housing fees
• short-term rentals