[ad_1]
Christy Bieber is a personal finance and legal writer with more than a decade of experience. She earned her JD from UCLA School of Law and was an adjunct professor at the start of her career, teaching paralegal studies and related courses. In addition to writing for the web, she has also designed educational courses and written textbooks focused on a variety of legal subjects.
Adam Ramirez has been writing and editing about the law and legal issues for more than 20 years. After earning a law degree from the University of Arizona, he clerked for two years for a U.S. District Court judge. He researched and wrote legal precedent in published opinions on behalf of the Court. He previously was an editor, columnist and journalist at the Miami Herald, The Dallas Morning News, The Oregonian, Golf Digest, FindLaw.com and other media outlets.
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations.
Getty
If you are renting a property in the state of Georgia, a Georgia lease agreement template helps you to ensure you have a legally valid contract that protects your rights. Both landlords and tenants benefit from creating a comprehensive lease agreement that governs the terms of their relationship.
To get a free Georgia Lease Agreement template you can use to create a lease agreement, simply enter your email address below.
Georgia Lease Agreement Template
A Georgia lease agreement template is a sample contract that landlords and tenants can fill in with their information to create a legally enforceable agreement governing their relationship.
The template helps both parties to the agreement understand what is expected of them and enables them to ensure that the agreement is enforceable in the event a conflict occurs during the rental period. You can get a sample template for a Georgia lease agreement by entering your email address in the tool above.
What Is a Georgia Lease Agreement?
A Georgia lease agreement is a legally binding contract. It can be written or oral, and it explains both what a landlord’s rights and obligations are and what a tenant’s rights and obligations are when a landlord allows a tenant the use of a property.
Georgia lease agreements also go by other names, including the following:
- Georgia rental contract
- Georgia rental agreement
- Georgia rental lease
- Georgia tenancy agreement
- Georgia lease form
There are different kinds of Georgia leases you can enter into as well, including the following lease types:
- Residential leases
- Commercial leases
- Roommate contracts
- Subleases
When Is a Georgia Lease Agreement Used?
A Georgia lease agreement should be used whenever a landlord rents a property to a tenant. Leases may be for any length of time in Georgia and should be used when residential or commercial properties are being rented.
Who Needs to Create a Georgia Lease Agreement?
Georgia law requires a written lease if a contract to rent a property will last for longer than one year. However, even in situations where tenants are renting for a shorter time frame, both parties benefit from having a written contract in place.
Either a landlord or tenant could create the lease agreement, although usually a landlord presents the tenant with a lease to sign after the tenant has successfully submitted an application to rent a property. Tenants can also use a Georgia lease agreement template and work with a landlord to get them to sign it if the landlord doesn’t have a written contract in place.
Which Parties Are Involved in a Georgia Lease Agreement?
The parties involved in a Georgia lease agreement include:
- The person(s) or entity renting the property. This could be an individual, corporation or other kind of entity that is renting the space. The person who is renting is called a tenant or lessee.
- The person or entity who is renting out the property. This is usually the property owner, except in cases of a sublease. The property owner is called the landlord or lessor.
When a tenant doesn’t have good credit, solid proof of income, or required references, then a landlord may also want an additional party involved: a co-signer or guarantor. A cosigner is a person who has better credentials and who presents less of a risk as a renter. The cosigner agrees to take financial responsibility if the tenant doesn’t pay as promised or otherwise violates the rules of the lease agreement.
What Should Be Included in a Georgia Lease Agreement?
A Georgia lease agreement should contain some specific details including:
- The names and contact details of the landlord and of the tenant
- A description of the exact property that is being leased to the tenant
- Information about what amount of rent is due, when it must be paid, when it is considered late, and what happens if rent is late
- Details on any required security deposits, as well as conditions of the return of the deposit
- Rules regarding use of the property, including whether animals are allowed on premises
- Rules detailing the landlord’s right of entry
Georgia law does not establish occupancy limits, although some local ordinances do. A lease can include occupancy restrictions, but this must be made clear in the lease.
Georgia also prohibits certain types of language from being included in a lease, such as clauses removing a landlord’s obligation to keep the property in good repair or a clause requiring that a tenant pay a landlord’s attorney fees if the landlord hires a lawyer to enforce the lease agreement.
Because the lease is the only legally enforceable record of your arrangement for the rental property, it is in the best interests of both the landlord and the tenant to make the lease as comprehensive as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is there a standard lease agreement in Georgia?
There is no standard lease agreement in Georgia. However, you can see an example of a lease agreement between the Georgia Building Authority and tenants of the authority. This gives you an idea of what a Georgia lease might include. There are also many Georgia lease agreement templates online that you can use to help you create an enforceable, comprehensive contract between a landlord and tenant.
Does a Georgia lease agreement have to be in writing?
A Georgia lease must be in writing if the lease agreement is for more than a year. Even when a lease agreement is for a shorter duration of time, both the landlord and tenant will be better off if a written contract establishes their rights and obligations. Not only does this reduce the chances of a dispute, but it also ensures a third party can resolve any conflicts that do arise.
What is required in a Georgia lease agreement?
A Georgia lease should include the contact details of all parties as well as a description of the rental space. Georgia leases must be in writing if the lease agreement is for a year or longer. Lease agreements cannot contain certain clauses under Georgia law, including those removing a landlord’s maintenance obligations or requiring tenants to pay attorney fees for a landlord.
Was this article helpful?
More from
Forbes Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners.
Are you sure you want to rest your choices?
”
>
[ad_2]
Source link
