A landlord and tenant in Georgia settle the same basics before anyone moves in: what's owed, by when, and under what conditions. Complete your Georgia lease agreement with Lumr and download it the moment it's ready.
Start here
1
Where will it be used?
2
Create your document
Ready in minutes
Fully editable
Private and secure
Region adapted
ESIGN & UETA e-signatures
256-bit SSL secured
SOC 2 Type II
What Is a Georgia Lease Agreement?
A Georgia lease agreement works like a rulebook for the tenancy, spelling out who owes what and what happens if something goes wrong. It covers a single bedroom just as easily as a whole office suite.
Details typically spelled out include:
How much rent is owed and when it's due
Where the security deposit sits and how it gets returned
How long the lease runs and any renewal options
Who handles maintenance and which utilities fall to the tenant
Ground rules for guests and pets
Skipping the paperwork for a handshake deal is tempting, but it leaves nothing to point to if a disagreement lands in court.
Every Georgia residential lease agreement follows this same basic structure, though a commercial lease swaps in business-specific terms instead.
Mandatory Landlord Disclosures for Georgia Lease Agreements
Georgia law requires a handful of disclosures before a tenant signs, laid out below:
Disclosure
Requirement
1. Owner or manager information
Written notice of the property owner's name and address, or the authorized manager's, with 30 days to update it if either changes.
2. Security deposit escrow
Written notice of the bank holding the deposit, since Georgia law requires deposits to sit in a regulated escrow account.
3. Flood history
Disclosure if the living space has flooded three or more times in the past five years.
4. Lead-based paint
A federal disclosure is required for any unit built before 1978.
Skipping these disclosures doesn't void the lease outright. It does leave a landlord open to a dispute down the line, so it's worth getting them in writing from the start.
Local governments can occasionally add their own notice rules on top of these, particularly for older housing stock. A quick check with the city or county is worth the extra few minutes.
Types of Georgia Lease Agreement
Not every rental fits the same mold. Property type narrows the list first, and how long the tenancy runs narrows it the rest of the way:
Standard lease: Locks in a set term, typically 12 months.
Month-to-month lease: Continues indefinitely until either side ends it.
Rent-to-own lease: Pairs a rental period with an option to buy later.
Room rental agreement: One bedroom, with the rest of the property shared among residents.
Sublease agreement: The current tenant brings in someone else to take over part or all of the unit.
Commercial lease: Covers office and retail space rather than a home.
Standard Residential Lease Agreement in Georgia
A fixed term, usually 12 months, is what defines a standard residential lease agreement in Georgia. Both sides keep the rent and deposit terms locked in for that stretch unless they agree otherwise.
When the term wraps up, nothing happens automatically: the landlord and tenant either work out a renewal or go their separate ways.
Georgia's statute of frauds is the only paperwork rule that kicks in here, and it hinges on length. Anything past 12 months has to be in writing, though notarization is never part of the deal.
The state doesn't cap how long a fixed-term lease can run. Two- and three-year agreements show up fairly often for larger rental properties and tenants planning to stay put.
Under Georgia law, this type of rental arrangement is known as a tenancy at will. It keeps renewing with no fixed end date. Under O.C.G.A. § 44-7-7, a landlord needs 60 days' notice to terminate a lease, while a tenant only needs 30.
That same asymmetry shapes how rent increases work. Since raising the rent effectively changes the terms of the tenancy, most landlords apply the same 60-day notice before a higher rate takes effect.
Neither side has to commit for a full year, which is exactly what draws renters and landlords who'd rather stay nimble.
Renting just a bedroom works differently: everything outside that room, kitchen included, belongs to the household as a whole. A tenant shares the bathroom and any common living space with whoever else has a room there.
The deposit cap and disclosure requirements don't change based on square footage, so a single room carries the same protections as a full apartment. Put in writing, before move-in, exactly what's private and what's communal.
That clarity matters most in a shared house, where unwritten assumptions about noise or overnight guests cause more disputes than rent ever does.
Bring in a subtenant, and the original tenant doesn't step off the lease: they're still on the hook even after handing over the keys. Georgia has no statute banning or requiring subletting outright, so the original lease decides.
Silence in that lease generally works in the tenant's favor here, since subletting is allowed by default unless it's specifically barred. A courtesy heads-up to the landlord still helps head off disputes down the line.
The original tenant remains responsible for the rent and any damage, whatever the subtenant does once they move in.
A commercial lease agreement in Georgia covers property used for business, including:
Offices
Retail storefronts
Restaurants
Warehouses and industrial space
None of the residential protections above, deposit caps and disclosure rules included, carry over to a business tenancy. The contract itself becomes the only rulebook that matters.
Spell out rent escalations and who covers build-outs, plus exactly what the space can be used for. Georgia courts hold parties to the letter of what's written, so loose language usually favors whoever drafted it.
A simple Georgia lease agreement doesn't require legal training to put together. Follow these steps in order, whether starting from a blank lease agreement or adapting a sample.
1
Identify the landlord and tenants
Enter the full legal name and contact details of the landlord and every tenant who will sign the lease.
2
Describe the property
Give the full address and unit number, then note whatever else comes with it, such as parking spaces, appliances, storage areas, or furnishings.
3
Set the lease term and rent
State when the lease starts and ends, or explain the renewal terms if it is month-to-month. Include the monthly rent, due date, and accepted payment methods.
4
Add the security deposit
State the amount, keeping it at or under two months' rent, and name the escrow bank holding it.
5
Include the required disclosures
List the owner or property manager's information, and include any disclosures that apply to the rental. This may include flood or lead-paint information.
6
Sign and keep copies
The landlord and tenants sign the finished document. Keep the original in a safe place and provide each tenant with a copy.
FAQ
FAQs About Georgia Lease Agreement
If you're renting out or moving into a property in Georgia, these FAQs answer some of the most common questions you may have about lease agreements.
Is there a limit on security deposits in Georgia?
Yes. Under O.C.G.A. § 44-7-30.1, a landlord can't charge more than two months' rent, regardless of the property type.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Georgia?
In Georgia, a landlord has 30 days after regaining possession to return the deposit. That deadline covers a full refund or, if money is withheld, an itemized list of damages.
What is the move-in inspection requirement in Georgia?
Under O.C.G.A. § 44-7-33, a landlord must give the tenant a written list of any existing damage before accepting a deposit. The tenant can inspect the property, sign off, or note disagreement in writing instead.
How much notice is required to terminate a lease in Georgia?
According to state law, a month-to-month tenancy requires 60 days from the landlord and 30 from the tenant. A fixed-term lease simply ends on its stated date, with no notice required unless the lease itself says otherwise.
How much notice must a landlord give before entering the property in Georgia?
Georgia has no statute setting a required notice period for entry. It comes down to tenant consent and whatever the lease specifies, so spell it out in the agreement rather than leaving it to assumption.
Does a lease agreement need to be notarized in Georgia?
No. A Georgia lease holds up without a notary's signature, regardless of its length. The one paperwork requirement that does matter: anything longer than a year has to be in writing, under the state's statute of frauds.
How much can a landlord raise the rent in Georgia?
The state sets no cap on rent increases, and no city can pass its own rent control ordinance. On a month-to-month lease, though, a higher rate generally needs the same 60-day notice as ending the tenancy.
Ready to create your Lease Agreement?
Answer a few questions and download your document in minutes.