Legal Templates

Georgia Standard Residential Lease Agreement

Updated July 31, 2024
Written by Ioana Gagiuc | Reviewed by Susan Chai, Esq.

A Georgia standard residential lease agreement outlines the terms and conditions between a landlord and a tenant for renting a residential property. It covers key details such as the names and contact information of the parties, specifics about the rented property, and the duration of the lease.

The document also covers the rental amount, due dates, and any penalties for late payments. It’s crucial for both parties to thoroughly review and understand the contents of the lease agreement before signing it to avoid misunderstandings or disputes in the future.

Table of Contents

Download: PDF or MS Word.

Lease Length Considerations

  • Typically, lease terms run for about a year. If rent is paid after the expiration of a one-year lease, it implies a one-year renewal of the lease. Any changes to this arrangement must be agreed upon in writing to be legally binding. [1] ​
  • The landlord-tenant relationship is established once the owner of real estate grants another person the right to possess and enjoy the use of the real estate. This applies for a fixed time or at the will of the grantor. Renting real estate for less than five years conveys only the right to possess and enjoy the real estate unless otherwise agreed in the contract​. [2] ​
  • In the absence of a specified lease duration, the tenancy does not automatically default to a month-to-month or week-to-week basis, but rather, it is considered a tenancy at will. [3]

Required Disclosures

  • Identification of landlord or authorized agents.
  • Fire safety and protection addendum.
  • Disclosure of flood hazard area.
  • Security deposit notice.
  • Disclosure of lead-based hazards.

More information on required disclosure and relevant laws can be found on our Georgia lease agreement page.

Security Deposit

  • Maximum Amount ($): Capped at no more than two month’s worth of rent.
  • Returning to Tenant: Within 30 days. [4]

Rent Payment

  • Grace Period: While there is no rent grace period for paying rent in Georgia, there is a 3-day notice requirement before an eviction can be filed.
  • Maximum Late Fee: No late fee, but landlords can charge up to 16% per annum interest on owed rent. [5]
  • NSF Fee: $30 or 5% for a bounced check. [6]

Landlord Resources

georgia rental application form

Georgia Rental Application

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  1. Allen v. Montgomery, 105 S.E. 33. https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/allen-v-montgomery-11478-907545425
  2. Ga. Code § 44-7-1. https://casetext.com/statute/code-of-georgia/title-44-property/chapter-7-landlord-and-tenant/article-1-in-general/section-44-7-1-creation-of-landlord-and-tenant-relationship-rights-of-tenant-construction-of-lease-for-less-than-five-years
  3. Ga. Code § 44-7-6. https://casetext.com/statute/code-of-georgia/title-44-property/chapter-7-landlord-and-tenant/article-1-in-general/section-44-7-6-tenancy-at-will-creation-when-no-time-period-specified
  4. Ga. Code § 44-7-34(a). https://casetext.com/statute/code-of-georgia/title-44-property/chapter-7-landlord-and-tenant/article-2-security-deposits/section-44-7-34-return-of-security-deposit-grounds-for-retention-of-part-delivery-of-statement-and-sum-due-to-tenant-unclaimed-deposit-court-determination-of-disposition-of-deposit
  5. § 7-4-2(a)(2). https://casetext.com/statute/code-of-georgia/title-7-banking-and-finance/chapter-4-interest-and-usury/article-1-in-general/section-7-4-2-legal-rate-of-interest-maximum-rate-of-interest-generally-certain-items-not-considered-interest
  6. Ga. Code § 13-6-15(b). https://casetext.com/statute/code-of-georgia/title-13-contracts/chapter-6-damages-and-costs-generally/section-13-6-15-damages-for-writing-bad-checks
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Georgia Residential Lease Agreement

The document above is a sample. Please note that the language you see here may change depending on your answers to the document questionnaire.

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