Renters are sometimes evicted or have their rents raised when they complain to their landlords or local code enforcement agencies seeking fixes to their residences.



It could be a leaky roof, a broken appliance, rodent or bug infestations, or simply poor construction they seek to have remedied.

But because contractual leases often have stipulations that allow a landlord to evict for most any reason with, typically, a 30- or 60-day notice, renters have little legal recourse.

“It’s a lot easier for (landlords) to just move on,” said Anthony Davenport, a staff attorney with Georgia Legal Services in Gainesville who leads an eviction prevention aid program serving low-income tenants with private landlords.

But a new bill that passed the Georgia House this month, House Bill 346, would give renters some ammunition to fight back.

“It’s a small bill, but a huge step,” Davenport said.

The hardest part of his job, Davenport said, is informing tenants of their rights “but then I have to go in with the caveat at the end.”

That warning is simple: You may face retribution.

As The Times has previously reported, for low-income families struggling to find affordable housing in a tight rental market, substandard apartments, homes, and mobile or manufactured units are often the last best option because they tend to be cheaper and more available to rent.