A New Chapter in Renter Protections

Georgia House Bill 404 went into effect earlier this month, marking an important milestone for renter protections across the state.

The bill, known as the “Safe at Home” Act, requires landlords to maintain housing that is “fit for human habitation.” In addition to supporting tenant complaints and code enforcement, the law puts a cap on the amount landlords can demand as security deposit and requires a grace period before landlords can file for evictions.

Elizabeth Appley, a Georgia housing lobbyist, told Atlanta News First that most states adopted these standards over 50 years ago. “Every eviction in Georgia costs over $11,000 in the cost of emergency shelter, emergency room visits, medical hospitalization,” she said. “The problem is, people have no place to go and that’s why they end up tolerating this. Because we have a drastic shortage of housing at every income level in Georgia.”

Work Still to Do

This bill is an important step toward safe and stable housing. BCM staff members actually helped advocate for it by speaking to lawmakers during the last session. However, it’s important to note that it still leaves a lot of room for progress. The bill currently does not define what “fit for human habitation” actually means, and the grace period it extends to tenants is only three days.

Furthermore, it does not address the primary driver of homelessness in our community, which is the lack of affordable housing for low- and middle-income families. Until we’re able to ensure that individuals and families have access to safe AND affordable housing opportunities, we will continue to rely on safety nets to protect our vulnerable neighbors.