I just got an eviction notice
Georgia tenant rights
What to do in the first 72 hours after receiving an eviction notice — your response window is short and how you act matters.
Step 1
Identify the notice type
Eviction notices come in a few flavors: "pay or quit" (you owe rent), "cure or quit" (you've allegedly violated the lease), or "unconditional quit" (most severe, usually for serious breaches). The notice window varies by state and notice type — often 3 to 30 days. The clock starts the day you receive it.
Step 2
Do NOT ignore it
Ignoring the notice does not make it go away. If you miss the window, the landlord files with the court; if you don't show up for the court date, you lose by default. Default judgments are much harder to unwind than appearing and negotiating.
Step 3
Call legal aid immediately
Every state has free legal-aid organizations for low-income tenants. Many cities also have "right to counsel" programs in housing court. Call them the day you get the notice. Tenant-side lawyers often win or delay cases landlords expected to win easily, sometimes by spotting procedural defects in the notice itself.
Step 4
Know that eviction is a public record
An eviction filing — even one you ultimately win — shows up in tenant-screening reports for years and can make it harder to rent elsewhere. That's all the more reason to contest defective notices early, negotiate a settlement that keeps the case off the record, or move out voluntarily before filing when the writing is on the wall.
Know the landlord you're renting from
Search Vett for lease-verified reviews and public records on landlords in Georgia before you sign anything.
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