Cal. Civ. Code § 44-7-15
Effect of destruction of tenement on obligation to pay rent.
Operative Text
The destruction of a tenement by fire or the loss of possession by any casualty not caused by the landlord or from a defect of his title shall not abate the rent contracted to be paid.
Under O.C.G.A. § 44-7-15, if a rented property is destroyed by fire or a tenant loses possession due to some other casualty, the tenant's contractual obligation to pay rent is not automatically canceled—provided the event was not caused by the landlord or a flaw in the landlord's ownership title. In other words, the law does not treat accidental destruction or loss of possession as an automatic excuse to stop paying rent. The rule places the risk of certain unforeseen events on the tenant rather than the landlord, unless the landlord bears some responsibility.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under O.C.G.A. § 44-7-15, landlords operating in Georgia should be aware that a tenant's rent obligation generally survives events like fire or other casualties that are outside the landlord's control and unrelated to any defect in the landlord's title. Compliant operators typically document the cause and circumstances of any casualty event carefully, since the landlord's own conduct or a title defect could shift the legal outcome. Maintaining clear records of property ownership, insurance, and the circumstances surrounding any loss helps establish that a casualty was not attributable to the landlord.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
O.C.G.A. § 44-7-15 establishes that a tenant's rent obligation may survive a fire or other casualty unless the landlord caused the event or held a defective title to the property. Tenants who believe a landlord's actions or a title defect contributed to a loss of possession may have grounds to raise that connection as a defense against continued rent obligations. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service familiar with Georgia landlord-tenant law can help tenants understand whether the circumstances of a specific casualty fall within the exceptions recognized by § 44-7-15.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.