Sandy Springs Together

Everyone Deserves a Voice

renters

Sandy Springs Together’s Year in Review

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In 2023, Sandy Springs Together engaged with more residents, organizations and community leaders than ever before to facilitate positive change in our community. From community barbeques to public forums, we met and heard from YOU, our neighbors in Sandy Springs.

Celebrating Black Excellence Panel

On Friday, February 24, Sandy Springs Together and Sandy Springs Charter Middle School partnered to highlight some of the many Black leaders who are making a positive impact within our community by hosting the Celebrating Black Excellence panel discussion for middle school students. 

This event brought together local Black leaders from a variety of professions to share with students how they achieved personal success and to give students advice on achieving their own goals. Sandy Springs Together is proud to work with community partners to hold events such as the Celebrating Black Excellence panel discussion. Events like these introduce our students to leaders in Sandy Springs who are making important contributions to society and giving back to the community.

  

The Launch of Sandy Springs Speaks

In March, more than 100 Sandy Springs apartment residents attended the inaugural Sandy Springs Speaks to voice their concerns and share ideas they’d like to see implemented in the community.

Sandy Springs Speaks is a series of community-focused events that are designed to derive input from Sandy Springs residents about their living experiences. We held several Sandy Springs Speaks events in 2023, both in-person and online, and we’re looking forward to hosting more in 2024!

Sandy Springs Speaks: Let’s Talk Trash, Rose Scott and Vox

In response to feedback we received during our first Sandy Springs Speaks event, we invited representatives from Sandy Springs Code Enforcement, the Sandy Springs Fire Department and other local officials to answer apartment residents’ most pressing questions, from trash pickup and pest control to concerns about apartment living conditions.

Also in April, thanks to our partnership with VOX Teen Communications, Sandy Springs Together sponsored an event for students at North Springs High School to meet award-winning journalist and host of “A Closer Look”, Rose Scott. 

Scott spoke with students about her experiences as a journalist and provided tips on pursuing a career in the field, including the best ways to find reliable resources and how to most effectively communicate their ideas.

Community Screening of The Little Mermaid

In May, we joined local nonprofits, businesses and community leaders to support a special screening of Disney’s, “The Little Mermaid” for young women in our community. 

Organized by community leader Le’Dor Milteer, this event also provided an opportunity for attendees to hear from role models who are women of color. We’re grateful for the opportunity to support events like this one that allow Sandy Springs children to connect with individuals in our community who serve as positive sources of support and inspiration in their lives.

Launching of Imagine Sandy Springs Together Ad Campaign

In July, we launched the Imagine Sandy Springs Together ad campaign. This campaign embodies Sandy Springs Together’s core beliefs and goals: to create a more equitable and welcoming Sandy Springs for people from all walks of life. 

The campaign utilized images of recognizable locations in our community, from the Sandy Springs Farmers Market to our local cafe.

Sandy Springs Speaks: BBQ & Buddies; Sandy Springs Speaks: Let’s Talk Trash

In September, we hosted the Sandy Springs Speaks: BBQ & Buddies for an afternoon of food, fun and socializing. This event allowed us to strengthen the relationships we’ve developed with members of Sandy Springs’ apartment community while also discussing ideas and plans to create a more equitable future for all. We also held our first-ever virtual Sandy Springs Speaks event, titled: Sandy Springs Speaks: Let’s Talk Fire Safety & Trash! Fire safety and waste management were two of the most- discussed topics during our initial Sandy Springs Speaks events, so we brought back representatives from Sandy Springs Code Enforcement and the Sandy Springs Fire Department to speak to apartment residents about their concerns surrounding these issues.

Love Where You Learn

As the leaves changed colors and the temperature began to drop, we continued working to improve our community. We proudly partnered with Ison Elementary School and Lowe’s Companies, Inc. to host “Love Where You Learn”, a transformational project to enhance the surrounding landscape at Ison Elementary School. 

We worked with our neighbors and friends to add vibrant colors, shrubs and more at the entrance of the school in the hope that it would enhance students’ pride in their school.

Sandy Springs Speaks: Renters’ Rights Summit

To close out our year, Sandy Springs Together hosted the first-ever Sandy Springs Speaks: Renter’s Rights Summit on Sunday, November 12. The event featured a panel of experts made up of: 

  • Rep. Omari Crawford, Georgia State House District 84
  • Atty. Crystal Redd, Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation and Co-Director of the Safe and Stable Homes Project
  • Atty. Esther Graff-Radford, Atlanta-based Civil Litigation Lawyer
  • Michael Waller, Executive Director of Georgia Appleseed

The summit provided Sandy Springs apartment residents with helpful tips and information about their legal rights and how to address issues they may have with their landlords.

Thanks to your support and participation this year, we’ve made significant strides in advocating for affordable housing and inclusive development. Your feedback given during our community forums, your social media comments and your continuous drive to help create a better Sandy Springs has made this year a success. 

As we prepare to enter 2024, we are excited to continue this journey with you. Your involvement is key to our shared vision for a thriving Sandy Springs where every voice is heard and every resident can prosper.

Sandy Springs Speaks: Renters’ Rights Summit

Disclaimer: The following is not intended to be legal advice.

“Georgia lags other states in tenant protection” from the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s ‘Dangerous Dwellings’ Series

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Dangerous Dwellings series, tenant-protection laws in Georgia are among the weakest in the nation. This, in turn, allows landlords to disregard health and safety concerns, charge excessive fees, and quickly evict residents who fall behind on rent.

On Sunday, November 12th, Sandy Springs Together invited four leaders in the battle to improve renters’ rights in Georgia to share there knowledge with Sandy Springs apartment residents during the first-ever Sandy Springs Speaks: Renters’ Rights Summit.

  • Rep. Omari Crawford, Georgia State House District 84
  • Atty. Crystal Redd, Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation and Co-Director of the Safe and Stable Homes Project
  • Atty. Esther Graff-Radford, Atlanta-based Civil Litigation Lawyer
  • Michael Waller, Executive Director of Georgia Appleseed

The summit provided Sandy Springs apartment renters with helpful tips and information about their legal rights and how to address issues they may have with their landlords.

Our panel of experts addressed topics such as reviewing a lease agreement to dealing with eviction and early termination issues. The following bullet points highlight general advice (not legal advice) given by our speakers during the Renters’ Rights Summit. 

Lease Review:

  • Make a copy of your signed lease before returning it; you may need to refer to it later. 
  • All apartment landlords in Georgia are required to comply with health and safety laws and provide a “safe and habitable” unit. 
  • Request information about the institution your security deposit will be deposited into.
  • Leases remain valid even if the ownership of the building changes during your lease. 
  • All charges should be outlined in the lease, i.e. water, security gage, valet trash. 

Maintenance Issues: 

  • Communicate to management, in writing, including the date and keep a copy of all correspondence. 
  • Take photos of the issue, if possible.
  • If the maintenance issue isn’t fixed to your satisfaction, notify Code Enforcement, which is available 24/7 by phone at (770) 730 – 5600. 
  • If Code Enforcement is unable to rectify the issue, you may choose to contact a lawyer.
  • A tenant is allowed to hire a professional contractor to make repairs, but this also has risks. You may want to check with an attorney before making this decision. 

Eviction and Early Termination Issues:

  • Penalties and processes for early termination of the lease by the tenant should be outlined within the lease. 
  • Continue paying your rent; failure to pay your rent is terms for eviction. 
  • Respond to an eviction notice within 7 days; DO NOT IGNORE IT.
  • Try to work out a payment plan. If you are unable to do so and you feel that your eviction is unjustified, contact a lawyer. 

General: 

  • The rights and powers for both landlords and tenants are derived from state law. 
  • Rental control is illegal in Georgia. 
  • Municipalities are not allowed to create their own rent control laws.
  • Talking to your state legislators about your situation will help to educate them about the conditions and challenges renters face in Georgia.  

If you have additional questions or if you’d like to learn more, here are several useful links:

Georgia Appleseed Healthy Housing Advocacy Handbook 

Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation – pro bono legal representation for qualified individuals living in Fulton County

Georgia Department of Community Affairs: The Georgia Landlord – Tenant Handbook

iProperty Management – Georgia Landlord Tenant Rights

  

Sine Die for Georgia’s Legislature: What’s At Stake for Apartment Residents

Today is Sine Die, the last day of session for Georgia’s General Assembly &  the final chance for lawmakers to pass potential bills through the legislature, sending them to Governor Kemp’s desk to either be signed into law or vetoed. 

A key piece of legislation that would strengthen the rights of our apartment neighbors still hangs in the balance. Here’s what you need to know: 

House Bill 404 – The Safe at Home Act

Highlighted in our blog in February, House Bill 404 would establish some basic protections for renters. 

Here are a few key components:

  • HB404 would require rental contracts, leases or agreements to include a provision stating that the premises is “fit for human habitation.”
  • HB404 would also prevent a landlord from requiring a security deposit that is more than two months rent.
  • Under HB404, landlords would be required to give tenants three days after rent is due before filing for eviction.

House Bill 404 was passed unanimously by the House on March 2 and by the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 20.  It is now up to Lt. Gov. Burt Jones to put the bill up for a vote before the end of today.  

Stay informed about what’s happening under the Gold Dome during Sine Die by using any of the many non-partisan bill trackers available, including the two we’ve listed below.

If you would like to contact your State Representative or State Senator regarding legislation, you can find their contact information by logging into your my voter page and selecting the My Districts & Elected Officials tab.

  

2023 Legislation Focused on Safer Rental Conditions

On February 7, 2023 and in August of 2022, we published two blogs that highlight the challenges Sandy Springs is facing due to negligence on the part of the management of some of our apartment communities regarding maintenance requests. 

Recent news reports in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution have pointed out that Georgia is behind most of the nation when it comes to ensuring renters have rights. During the 2023 legislative session, so far, two key pieces of legislation pertaining to renters’ rights to livable housing conditions have been drafted for consideration. 

These two pieces of legislation, HB404 and HB344, would be important steps in the right direction towards protecting the rights of our apartment neighbors.

If passed, HB344 would give landlords specific duties when it comes to addressing the state of a rental property. The bill would provide specific living conditions that a property would have to meet in order to be deemed habitable for tenants, and it includes remedies for tenants whose properties did not meet said conditions, including withholding rent. 

Key Provisions of HB344

  • The Building must comply with housing, fire or health codes and have effective waterproofing and weather protection of the roof and exterior walls, windows and doors.
  • The property must have working and maintained plumbing, electrical, water and appliances with access to a lawful water supply that provides hot and cold running water
  •  The property must have adequate ventilation and reasonable measures in place to control or prevent  the presence of rodents, pests and exposure to unsafe levels of radon, lead paint, asbestos, toxic mold and other hazardous substances.
  • The property must have working locks, or other security devices, on all exterior doors and on windows that open and close
  • In the case of non-compliance by the landlord for longer than a week,  the bill provides the tenant rights to terminate the agreement or continue the agreement and withhold rent until the issue is remedied, recover damages and, potentially, take the landlord to court.

These provisions are important and could have a HUGE positive effect on the living conditions for many renters, especially considering the fact that current Georgia law does not specify what conditions make a home habitable, yet tenants must continue to pay rent even if their rental property is unsafe.

Likewise, HB404 would require landlords to provide rental homes that are “fit for human habitation” and would create increased protections for tenants who are facing eviction due to late rent payments. 

Key provisions of HB404: 

  • Landlords would be required to provide rentals that are “fit for human habitation”
  • Tenants would have a guaranteed three-day grace period after missing a rent payment before an eviction proceeding can be filed
  • Landlords would be banned from cutting off air-conditioning prior to completion of an eviction action (this is an addition to current law which covers heat, light and water)
  • Security deposits would be capped at no more than three times the monthly rent
  • The eviction process would be expedited for tenants who have recently been charged or convicted with certain crimes, including a violent felony or sexual offense, or have committed a crime threatening the health, safety or welfare of others.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Dangerous Dwellings series, which highlights Georgia’s lack of tenant protections and meeting of basic condition standards when it comes to livable apartments, has played a key role in HB344 & HB404 being introduced. The series has uncovered 

  • Georgia is one of three states that don’t have specific requirements for livability of rental properties
  • Georgia is  one of eight states that don’t allow tenants to withhold rent, no matter how bad the living conditions of their rental property are
  • Georgia is one of five states that don’t provide a grace period for late rent
  • Georgia is among two dozen states that lack a cap on security deposits

If you would like to contact your state representative or state senator regarding this important legislation you can find their contact information on your my voter page and selecting the TAB My Districts and Elected Officials.