Rental Registries

Across Georgia, dangerous housing conditions and rising evictions have left tens of thousands of children facing instability and homelessness. During the 2022–2023 school year, over 41,000 preschool and school-aged children experienced housing instability—with more than 13,000 in chronically unsafe apartment complexes in Metro Atlanta alone. These harsh realities contribute to learning loss, frequent moves, and an increased risk of foster care placement, underscoring the urgent need for reform.

Rental registries are a key component of our 2025 Legislative Priorities, designed to enhance accountability in the rental housing market. By requiring landlords to register their properties with local authorities, these registries create a centralized database that ensures every rental unit meets essential safety and quality standards. This system empowers local governments to target enforcement efforts, allocate resources for housing improvements, and support community programs that protect tenants.

Twenty years ago, a state law banned local governments from registering rental properties—and corporate investors and institutional firms took advantage of the lack of accountability. Today, with over 25% of rental units in Georgia owned by institutional investors and just 7 firms owning more than 51,000 rental homes, the need for local oversight has never been more urgent. Repealing that ban and establishing robust rental registries will not only curb exploitative practices but also ensure that every tenant, especially Georgia’s most vulnerable children, has a safe and stable home