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There’s no denying that landlords have a lot on their plates. There's ensuring that repairs are done, that routine maintenance is conducted, and that your tenants are happy. You have to make sure your rent is paid on time, recurring fees are accounted for, and common spaces are well-maintained.
Before you get into the logistics of managing a lease, though, you'll need to ensure that your lease agreements adhere to federal and state laws.
One thing that you shouldn't have to worry about is actually drawing up a detailed, professional Georgia lease agreement from scratch.
In this article, we'll give you all of the information you need to create the perfect rental agreement–one that sets the tone for your relationship with your tenant and serves to protect both your rights and theirs.
What to Include
Before you can begin building your lease agreement, you'll need to know what vital information to include. Here are some of the details every standard Georgia residential lease agreement must include:
- Georgia landlord and tenant details
- Information about the monthly rent amount and security deposit
- Late fees and rent increases
- Mandatory disclosures (see the section below)
- Warranty of habitability
- Utilities and how they will be shared
- Information about lease termination and the eviction process
Disclosures
According to rental laws, Georgia landlords must make certain disclosures in the lease contract. Here is a summary of these disclosures:
1. The Landlord's Personal Details
To facilitate communication for legal notices, your lease must include your name and address, as well as the details of anyone authorized to act on your behalf.
2. Lead-based Paint Disclosure
All landlords in the United States must disclose potential risks of exposure to lead-based paint if the rental property was built before 1978.
3. Flooding Disclosure
According to landlord-tenant laws, landlords must disclose any flooding hazards associated with the lease if the rental property has been flooded three times in the last five years.
4. Pre-existing Defects
Before receiving the security deposit from the prospective renter, the landlord must present a list of any flaws or damages found within the rental property.
5. Death or Disease
According to state law, if questioned, a landlord or person operating on their behalf must reveal whether a person died on the premises or if there was a person afflicted with a communicable disease staying there.
6. The Location of the Security Deposit
If the security deposit is placed in an escrow account, the landlord is required to notify the tenant of the account's location. This must be included in the rental agreement.
Create a Lease
Now that you have all the information you need to add to your rental contract, you'll need a lease building tool to help you generate rental agreements quickly and easily. This is especially important if you own multiple rental units.
The first choice you have is a free form that you can print and complete. However, these offer no room for customization.
You could also choose to use a free Georgia rental agreement builder, such as the one offered by eForms. While this provides a little more room for customization, it may not be sufficient to include all the details you'll need.
Build Your Own
Alternatively, tools like DoorLoop's innovative lease builder can help you create the perfect lease agreement that can be customized to your liking. You can also enjoy a number of other benefits!
About DoorLoop
DoorLoop is a software solution designed explicitly for landlords and property owners. It allows you to receive rental applications, conduct credit checks, and manage the entire process from start to finish.
You can also create professional lease agreements, send them to your tenants, who can sign them electronically, and manage all your lease agreements in one place, all powered by DoorLoop.
To learn more about DoorLoop's features, schedule a demo.
eSignature
With DoorLoop, eSignatures take just a few clicks to get done, but it goes beyond that: you can also create lease templates that are reusable and autofilled with each tenant's information when you create them, making the whole process take a few minutes instead of several hours.
Your tenant's experience on your property starts with signing their lease, so it's a great idea to make the process as efficient as possible. DoorLoop does that and then some, streamlining applications and screening so that everything is simple from the beginning.
DoorLoop also connects with top listing platforms like Zillow, Trulia, Hotpads, Apartments.com, and more, letting you attract tenants on autopilot. You can also make sure you're bringing in the most reliable tenants by screening your prospects in seconds through an integration with TransUnion.
For more info about DoorLoop, learn more or schedule a free demo.
Final Thoughts
The truth is that many landlords struggle when creating their first lease contract. There are state laws that govern the process and federal law that may also apply, so it is understandable that many residential property owners feel intimidated.
However, using our helpful guide and DoorLoop, you can stay on top of your rental business operations and generate professional rental agreements that will work in your favor.
FAQs
What is a lease agreement?
A Georgia lease agreement is a legal document used to document the terms and circumstances that apply to the use of a rental property. Landlords often run a background check on the prospective tenant prior to drawing up this agreement.
The landlord and tenant must agree on how the lease will function by choosing the lease term, the monthly rent, security deposit, and any other stipulations that either party would like to create.
To guarantee that the contract is legally binding, each party must provide their information and sign it.
Are there different types of lease agreements?
Yes, there are several different agreements, including:
- The Georgia commercial lease agreement
- Georgia sublease agreement
- A Georgia standard residential lease
- The Georgia roommate agreement
How are disputes handled in Georgia?
Many conflicts between tenants and landlords worth up to $15,000 can be handled in Georgia's small claims court. Evictions are included in this category. Furthermore, there is no apparent statute of limitations in these matters.
If you want to, you can enlist the help of licensed attorneys, although this is not mandatory when taking these cases to small claims court.
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