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State lawmakers consider renters' rights

Right Facing Red For Rent Real Estate Sign in Front of Beautiful House.
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Right Facing Red For Rent Real Estate Sign in Front of Beautiful House.

A bill to bolster renters rights has been introduced in the Georgia House.

HB 404, titled the Safe at Home Act, would require landlords to provide rental homes that are fit for human habitation and increase protections for tenants who are facing eviction because they failed to pay their rent on time.

Current state law does not specify what conditions make a home habitable, and tenants must continue to pay rent even if their rental is unsafe to live in.

According to the bills sponsor, the bill seeks to strike a balance between the rights of renters and landlords. Elizabeth Apple, an advocate for safe, affordable housing, said the bill is a chance to see real improvement for families living in unsafe conditions.