ATLANTA — Housing can be one of the biggest expenses for families.
According to the latest data from Zillow, the median rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta – is $1,665.
If you are a renter, you know that background checks and security deposits are also required when you first secure an apartment.
Things may be getting more affordable in some areas in Georgia and some other states. As of May, prospective tenants saw a slight drop in rent prices because the supply of units in the Atlanta area was outpacing demand due to construction.
Posts on TikTok and other social media platforms are circulating, claiming a nationwide cap on the amount landlords can ask for the security deposit.
11Alive viewers are asking if those claims are true.
The Question
Are landlords in Georgia banned from charging three months' rent as a security deposit?
The Sources
The Answer
Yes, there is a limit to the amount of security deposit Georgia landlords can ask for from tenants.
But, this is only in the State of Georgia and certain states like California.
That national VERIFY team did a similar story where they found that the claims are false on the nationwide scale because there is no nationwide cap on security deposit amounts at the federal level.
What We Found
The Safe at Home Act just took effect for Georgia on July 1st.
It lays out that “no landlord shall demand or receive a security deposit in an amount that exceeds the equivalent of two months’ rent.”
The state of California also had a similar law that took effect on July 1st – limiting security deposits to less than three months’ rent.
California and Georgia join about half the other United States with caps on deposits.
According to Rocket Lawyer and LandlordStudio, the following states have laws that ban landlords from setting the security deposit at three months’ rent or higher.
