Georgia Repair and deduct

Can a tenant fix something and deduct it from rent in Georgia?

Yes, by case law, not by statute. Applying the landlord's repair duty in O.C.G.A. § 44-7-13, Georgia courts allow a tenant to make repairs the landlord fails to make and either recover the reasonable cost or set it off against rent, or instead sue for damages (Dougherty v. Taylor & Norton Co., 5 Ga. App. 773 (1909)). No Georgia statute sets out a repair-and-deduct procedure.

Verified Source: O.C.G.A. § 44-7-13; Dougherty v. Taylor & Norton Co., 5 Ga. App. 773 (1909) · last checked 2026-10-23