New Tenant Protections Meant to Curb Evictions in Georgia

"Columbus officials are hoping a new Georgia law that went into effect July 1 will help curb the number of evictions in the city caused by unresolved repair issues," reports Allie Dean.

"The law, created by the adoption of House Bill 346, means that tenants who seek repairs to their housing can be legally protected from retaliation by their landlords, including rent hikes and eviction," explains Dean.

The city of Columbus, located in Muscogee County, just across the Chattahoochee River from the state of Alabama, saw 1,700 evictions last year. The Muscogee County Marshal's Office served 8,854 dispossessory warrants, "which means landlords filed with the court to evict a tenant," between July 2017 and June 2018.

"According a 2017 estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau, over half of Muscogee County residents are cost-burdened, meaning they pay more than 30% of their household income toward rent. Coupled with a shortage of affordable housing, that puts tenants in a tough spot," according to Dean.