From AJC Politics: Retaliatory Eviction
From AJC Politics: Retaliatory Eviction

Renter protections signed into Georgia law

02/21/2019 -- Austell, Georgia -- A warning of eveiciton sign is displayed in front of the leasing office at Parkview Apartments, located at 360 Riverside Parkway, in Austell, Thursday, February 21, 2019. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

Credit: Alyssa Pointer

Credit: Alyssa Pointer

02/21/2019 -- Austell, Georgia -- A warning of eveiciton sign is displayed in front of the leasing office at Parkview Apartments, located at 360 Riverside Parkway, in Austell, Thursday, February 21, 2019. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)
By
May 9, 2019

A new Georgia law protects renters from being evicted for complaining about problems like mold, rats and bugs.

Gov. Brian Kemp signed the measure, House Bill 346, into law Wednesday.

Supporters say it empowers renters to remain in their homes and punishes landlords who don't fix housing problems.

Under the new law, landlords who wrongfully try to evict tenants are responsible for paying them one month’s rent, plus $500 and legal costs.

"This is giving people who are in the worst circumstances just a little bit of standing," said state Rep. Sharon Cooper, a Republican from Marietta who sponsored the bill. "It sends a message that we're not going to tolerate" unhealthy housing conditions.

Georgia joins 41 other states with similar laws against retaliatory evictions.

About the Author

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

Follow Mark Niesse on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

**EMBARGO: No electronic distribution, Web posting or street sales before Saturday at 5:01 a.m. ET on Feb. 2, 2025. No exceptions for any reasons. EMBARGO set by source.** Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services, speaks during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday, Jan. 30 2025. (Mark Peterson/The New York Times)

Credit: NYT

LIVE UPDATES

Jon Ossoff calls on RFK Jr. to resign ahead of Senate hearing

Get the latest updates and analysis on the Georgia races for U.S. Senate and governor — the battleground state's most hotly contested races.

1h ago

John King on bowing out of Senate run: ‘I won’t tarnish my reputation’

The Georgia insurance commissioner says he has no regrets and is turning his attention to his reelection campaign.

OPINION

Trump gives the GOP cold feet on Epstein

One of the few Republicans to defy President Donald Trump on the matter has been Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene who joined a news conference with victims of Epstein.

The Latest

**EMBARGO: No electronic distribution, Web posting or street sales before Saturday at 5:01 a.m. ET on Feb. 2, 2025. No exceptions for any reasons. EMBARGO set by source.** Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services, speaks during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday, Jan. 30 2025. (Mark Peterson/The New York Times)

Credit: NYT

LIVE UPDATES

Jon Ossoff calls on RFK Jr. to resign ahead of Senate hearing

1h ago

John King on bowing out of Senate run: ‘I won’t tarnish my reputation’

OPINION

Trump gives the GOP cold feet on Epstein

Featured

A new Plane Train car is seen at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Maintenance Facility in Atlanta on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

The Atlanta airport Plane Train’s employees have voted to unionize

Employees who operate Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport's Plane Train said in a statement that their group is interested in better pay and benefits.

Georgia judge scraps FDA rule for cigarette packaging

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s latest rule requiring graphic warnings on cigarette packaging and advertising has been tossed out by a federal judge in South Georgia.

LISTEN

Rep. Buddy Carter pitches a Savannah wedding for Taylor Swift

“This is a storybook wedding, and they should have it in a storybook city," says Rep. Buddy Carter in a wide ranging interview on "Politically Georgia."