As the scorching summer months approach, residents of Northwest Georgia are undoubtedly turning their attention to cooling their homes. But for renters in the state, a critical question arises: Is your landlord legally obligated to provide air conditioning? With rent prices already straining budgets, the prospect of additional cooling costs adds to the financial pressure. The answer, unfortunately, is no.

In Georgia, landlords are not legally required to provide air conditioning or heating to their tenants. However, there is a crucial caveat: if the rental unit includes air conditioning or heating as part of the lease agreement, the landlord is responsible for maintaining and repairing those systems should they malfunction.

This news comes amidst the recent passage of the Georgia “Safe Home Act” in July 2024, aimed at ensuring habitable living conditions. While the Act represents significant progress in tenant protection, bringing Georgia in line with other states, it stops short of mandating AC or heat. The “Safe Home Act” does, however, establish a “minimum ‘duty of habitability’,” requiring landlords to provide housing “sufficient for habitation and free from health and safety risks.” Specifically, landlords are now legally bound to:

Maintain the building structure.

Keep the electrical and plumbing systems in working order.

Repair any appliances included in the rental unit.

Meet all local ordinances and minimum safety standards.

While the Act doesn’t guarantee a cool summer for all Georgia renters, it does provide a baseline of protection and ensures that landlords are responsible for basic necessities within their properties. Residents facing extreme temperatures are encouraged to explore resources for cooling assistance and to carefully review their lease agreements to understand their rights and responsibilities.

GPB contributed to this story.