Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Georgia

Hi, my name is Ashley and I just recently started renting a house in March and our first night we discovered it was falling apart. None of this was seen when we first looked at the house. Our landlord isn't really interested in fixing the home, he's more interested in the rent getting paid every month for a house we can't live in. The first night we discovered the walls were infested with roaches as well as fleas. The heating and air is wired in a weird way that if we want heat, he has to come change it, same for air. There are random little holes in the walls around the house, and the latest discovery is that the roof is leaking and some of the roof is falling in. We have made him aware, he paid for the first pest control round. He hasn't fixed anything else, roaches are still very bad. We have a 1 year old and baby on the way, we haven't lived there at all, but continue to pay rent. The first night a roach got in the bed with my son and that's when we left. Is there anything I can do? We've put in a little over $2000 already for a home that i don't feel is fit to live in.


Asked on 5/18/14, 10:52 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Glen Ashman Ashman Law Office also dba Glen Ashman Attorney

A landlord in Georgia has a duty to maintain a rental home in good repair. Send hm a certified letter that says unless all the repairs are not completed in ten days you will (1) retain a lawyer to sue him, and (2) will call your llocal code violation city or county office and give them a tour to try and get him cited and fined for all the violations. Let him know that if he will release you in writing from the lease, or if he does ALL the repairs in time, you will not find it necessary to sue him or to make a complaint. If he doesn't cooperate, get a lawyer to sue him and do make the code complaint. In the meantime, take LOTS of pictures. Slumlords like this are difficult to deal with, so you will have to be agressive and firm.

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Answered on 5/18/14, 11:08 pm


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