the landlord a civil penalty of one month's rent plus $500.00, court costs, reasonable attorney's fees where the conduct is willful, wanton, or malicious, and declaratory relief less any delinquent rents or other sums for which the tenant is liable to the landlord.
(f) It shall be a rebuttable defense under this Code section that the property has been inspected within the prior 12 months pursuant to any federal, state, or local program which certifies that the property complies with applicable building and housing codes or that the property has been inspected within the prior 12 months by a code enforcement officer or a licensed building inspector who certifies that the property complies with applicable building and housing codes.
Added by 2019 Ga. Laws 311,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2019.