ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – As Georgia experiences freezing temperatures, Atlanta News First Investigates is receiving concerns from renters who said their heating units are not working.
Under Georgia law, landlords are required to keep utilities in working order, and that includes electric, plumbing, and heat.
Georgia’s administrative code further states landlords must provide utilities allowing a tenant to keep temperatures in a residence between 65 and 85 degrees.
Your rights as a renter
- Your landlord is responsible for keeping your heat in working order. If it should break, you need to notify your landlord and give them a reasonable amount of time to fix the issue.
- The best thing to do is request repairs in writing so it’s official and dated. The law protects you from retaliation or eviction after these repair requests.
- If your landlord fails to make the repairs, you have the right to sue for damages or make the repairs and deduct the cost from your rent check.
- You can also call your city’s or county’s housing code department. Most counties and cities have inspectors who decide whether apartments are up to code; they can communicate with your landlord if they are not.
A spokesperson for Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division said it does not have jurisdiction over landlord-tenant matters, and refer to the Georgia Landlord Tenant Handbook, last updated in 2021…