A Georgia lawmaker is working to protect the rights of renters, especially those who find themselves in unacceptable living conditions. Without rent control measures in the state, renters can pay steep prices to rent their home and state laws don’t always protect them from a lack of heat, lack of air conditioning, lack of water, or broken appliances. A proposed bill from State Representative Marvin Lim would aim to clarify what qualifies as livable rental housing. Rep. Lim says his bill specifies standard upkeep and repairs that landlords should address as well as acceptable conditions related to things like garbage, plumbing, and water supply. A different bill in the General Assembly would require some landlords to compile data on serious crimes and report that data to tenants and prospective tenants.

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