Georgia Habitability and Repair Standards

O.C.G.A. § 44-7-13 states: 'The landlord must keep the premises in repair. He shall be liable for all substantial improvements placed upon the premises by his consent.' Section 44-7-14 provides that, having fully parted with possession, the landlord 'is responsible for damages arising from defective construction or for damages arising from the failure to keep the premises in repair.' Georgia courts read these as a non-waivable duty to repair after notice of a defect. Unlike many states, Georgia has no repair-and-deduct statute and no rent-withholding statute; a tenant's primary remedy for disrepair is to sue the landlord for damages or, in extreme cases, claim constructive eviction.

No specific statutory penalty. A landlord who fails to repair after notice may be sued under § 44-7-13 and § 44-7-14 for damages, including for personal injury or property loss caused by the disrepair; a tenant may not lawfully withhold or deduct rent, as Georgia has no statute authorizing it.