🇺🇸 Georgia tenant document
Landlord kept your deposit? Check the Georgia return rules, then challenge withheld funds with an organized written demand, your dates and amounts, an evidence plan, and official starting points in one downloadable pack.
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Official framework
Official Code of Georgia Annotated §§ 44-7-30 through 44-7-36
Georgia generally requires the landlord to return the full security deposit, or to provide a written statement identifying the exact reasons for any amount retained together with the balance, within 30 days after obtaining possession of the premises.
Read the official statute ↗Content reviewed October 1, 2026. General information only—not legal advice.
Georgia security deposit rules
Georgia generally requires a landlord to return the full security deposit, or to provide a written statement identifying the exact reasons for any amount kept along with the balance, within 30 days after obtaining possession of the rental, and deductions may not cover ordinary wear and tear. O.C.G.A. § 44-7-33 addresses move-in and move-out damage lists and the tenant’s right to dissent in writing, and § 44-7-35 describes potential treble damages and attorney’s fees a court may consider for improper withholding, subject to a bona fide error defense and a small-landlord exemption.
Watch your own deadline: O.C.G.A. § 44-7-33(c) generally limits a tenant’s claims to items the tenant specifically dissented to in writing; a tenant who attended the move-out inspection and signed the landlord’s list without a specific written dissent may be barred from recovering under § 44-7-35 if the lists gave written notice of that duty. Keep your mailing address current: a returned refund may become the landlord’s 90 days after mailing if you cannot be located.
Check coverage: Under O.C.G.A. § 44-7-36, §§ 44-7-31, 44-7-32, 44-7-33, and 44-7-35 do not apply to rental units owned by a natural person who, with a spouse and minor children, owns ten or fewer rental units, unless a third party manages them for a fee; § 44-7-34 still applies. Since July 1, 2024, § 44-7-30.1 caps deposits at two months’ rent for new or renewed residential leases.
These are general summaries, not conclusions about your situation. Review the linked official text and obtain legal advice when needed.
Deadline calculator · Normal wear and tear vs. damage · How to get your deposit back · Deadlines in other states
Georgia deposit dispute
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Georgia generally requires the landlord to return the full security deposit, or to provide a written statement identifying the exact reasons for any amount retained together with the balance, within 30 days after obtaining possession of the premises. Check the official statute for the conditions that apply to your tenancy.
No. The pack organizes a written demand and supporting record. The lease, facts, delivery, evidence, defenses, and any court decision control the result.
A personalized demand letter, timing worksheet, deduction dispute organizer, evidence and delivery log, and escalation-preparation sheet with official source links.
No. It identifies provisions to review and makes clear that potential enhanced remedies depend on facts and, if disputed, a court determination.
Yes. Complete the guided form to see a personalized preview. The finished five-part PDF costs $39 USD as a one-time purchase.