Repair deadline

Once your landlord has notice of a problem that materially interferes with your life, health, or safety, your landlord must act fast. Your landlord must start fixing it within 24 hours.

Once your landlord has notice of another problem that makes your home not fit to live in, your landlord must act. Your landlord must start fixing it within 72 hours.

After a landlord gets notice of a problem, how long a repair may take depends on the facts. Georgia’s handbook says a reasonable time depends on how serious the condition is and on the nature of the repair.

Suppose the department of health or another state or county agency tells your landlord in writing about a health or safety violation in your home. Your landlord must start repairs within 7 calendar days. If that is not possible for reasons beyond the landlord's control, the landlord must tell you why. The landlord must also set a reasonable tentative date (a start date that may change). One caution: an agency inspection can lead to an order closing the home to renters.

Step 2: give the landlord a reasonable time. After 30 days with no fix, the law starts by treating that wait as reasonable. Serious dangers can justify a much shorter wait.

After you give notice, your landlord has a reasonable amount of time to fix the problem. A judge decides what counts as reasonable based on how serious and dangerous the problem is. Maryland law assumes, unless your landlord proves otherwise, that taking more than 30 days from when you gave notice is too long.

For no heat, no water, no hot water, or no electricity, your landlord has 24 hours to start work. The same applies to anything that puts your life in danger.

If your refrigerator, stove, oven, or a major plumbing part breaks, your landlord has 72 hours to start fixing it.

For every other repair, your landlord has 10 days to start work.

Step 2: Give the landlord a reasonable time to fix the requested issue. The law treats 7 days as reasonable unless the landlord shows otherwise. The clock starts when the landlord receives your notice. A court can find a shorter or longer time based on how serious the problem is and whether parts and workers are available. If the damage came from an insured fire, hail, or similar loss, the clock does not start until the landlord gets the insurance money.

2 other deadlines apply after your written notice. Your landlord has 72 hours to start fixing a refrigerator, range and oven, or major plumbing fixture that the landlord supplied. Your landlord has 10 days to start fixing everything else. Both clocks start when your landlord receives your notice. Your landlord must then see that the work is completed promptly. If circumstances beyond your landlord's control delay the work, your landlord must fix the problem as soon as possible.