Georgia Landlord Tenant Handbook: - Forsyth County Government

I rent a home and the water coming out of the pipes looks brown and smells strange. Mylandlord says that the water comes from the city and is not his responsibility. Is thatcorrect?If you are concerned about the quality of your water, you should have it tested by a statecertifiedlaboratory. Testing will identify contaminants and the extent of the problem. You canhave your household water tested through your local county extension office found atwww.caes.uga.edu/extension/office.cfm. It is not necessary for everyone to have their watertested. Public and municipal water supplies are routinely tested and must meet standardsestablished by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); therefore, these sources usually donot need to be tested unless contamination is suspected.I rented an apartment. The landlord has the electric service connected and the account isin his name but the bill comes to my rental address. My landlord wants me to open the billand pay the electric company each month? Do I have to do that?If the bill is not in your name, it is a good idea to consider switching the bill to your ownname as this is helpful in establishing your credit. If the electric service is not in your name, youcan make the payment to the utility company. Even if the electric service is not in the tenant’sname, the landlord should not interfere with the electric service except in emergency situations.I am considering renting a house which has a septic tank. Should I be worried?If your water is not supplied by a city or county drinking water system, chances are youhave a septic tank. Properly installed and maintained septic tanks normally function well formany years. Septic tanks require reasonable usage and maintenance to ensure efficient33