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Chairwoman outlines county options for tenants with maintenance complaints; residents directed to building inspections and courts for remedies
Summary
Chairwoman Lisa Cupid advised residents with habitability concerns to contact Cobb County Community Development for unit inspections and described state protections against landlord retaliation; she outlined possible court defenses such as paying rent to the court where applicable.
At the July 17 town-hall, Chairwoman Lisa Cupid addressed resident questions about corporate landlords and the county's role in enforcing maintenance standards for rental units.
Cupid said residents who believe their rental unit is not habitable or safe should contact Cobb County Community Development, specifically the chief building official's office, and provide the unit address to request an inspection. "If someone is experiencing issues of their rentals, home not being habitable, not being safe to live in, you can actually reach out to our Cobb County community development office," she said.
She explained that for multi-family complexes, county inspection requires a resident invitation for inspection of a specific unit rather than a general complaint about a building. Cupid also referenced a recent state law that offers protections from landlord retaliation and noted court remedies available in landlord-tenant proceedings, including the defense of withholding rent and paying rent into the court so the court can compel repairs.
Why it matters: Tenants with unaddressed maintenance or habitability issues may have administrative remedies through local building inspections and legal defenses in court; the county does not itself provide direct tenant-advocacy services but enforces building codes through Community Development.
Ending: Residents with unit-specific issues were advised to contact Community Development for inspections and to consult court processes; Cupid suggested those facing poor follow-through should reach out to their commissioner for assistance with follow-up.
