Senior Living Apartments in Atlanta, GA

Aging adults pay for Atlanta senior apartments just like they would for a standard apartment community. Residents mainly rely on personal funds to cover their monthly rent, though there are VA benefits and public assistance resources that may be available to help eligible seniors pay for an apartment.

For the most part, Atlanta senior apartments are regulated similarly to conventional apartment communities. However, senior apartments located in an assisted living community may be regulated differently. You can find state-specific details in our guide to assisted living regulations.

Rental properties typically have a lease agreement between a landlord and tenant, which lets the tenant temporarily live in the property. Leases can be different depending on the landlord, but many will likely hold a landlord responsible for the following:

• Maintaining the building’s structure
• Providing a formal move-out inspection of units
• Making unit repairs unless issues were evident during the move-in inspection
• Providing any information about known lead-based paint or other hazards on the property
• Providing functioning electric, heating, and plumbing systems

It’s important for tenants to thoroughly read through a lease agreement before signing, as it’s a binding contract. Tenants can ask a landlord to change some terms of a lease before signing, but a landlord can choose to deny any requests. There are some conditions that a landlord legally can’t amend in a lease that you should be mindful of. All Atlanta landlords must abide by the following:

• They must follow local laws including the Georgia Security Deposit Law.
• They’re responsible for keeping the property in good condition.
• They must pay their own attorney fees required to enforce the lease.
• They must go through the eviction process in court before kicking a tenant out.

You can find a full list of the state’s rental laws in the Georgia Landlord Tenant Handbook.

Fair housing and reasonable accommodations

Most, if not all, housing in Georgia must comply with the Fair Housing Act, which protects prospective homebuyers or renters from discrimination because of the following:

• Race
• Sex
• Religion
• Disability status
• Family status, such as children under 18 or pregnant women

There’s a slight exception to the family status protections, which is the Housing for Older Persons exemption. This exemption applies to these property types:

• Properties that are meant for and are only occupied by residents age 55+
• Properties intentionally designed to help older persons, per the state or federal program’s definition
• Properties intended for and exclusively inhabited by residents age 62 and older

Facilities that qualify for the exemption can refuse to sell or rent property to families with minor children. To qualify, a community or facility has to meet all of the requirements below:

• They must comply with HUD’s rules for age verification.
• A minimum of 80% of units need to be occupied by someone age 55 or older.
• They must publish and follow policies that establish intent to serve as 55+ housing.

Additionally, the Americans with Disabilities Act Title II also aims to prevent discriminatory practices. Under the law, landlords have to make reasonable accommodations that are necessary to provide equal access for disabled individuals. Landlords must also let disabled tenants make reasonable home changes that are essential for them to use and fully enjoy their living space.

By law, dwellings with four or more units must be equipped to provide disabled individuals access to the property. Some requirements mandate that all buildings built after March 13, 1991, must include certain modifications:

• A wheelchair-accessible entrance
• Wide doorways
• Easily maneuverable kitchens and bathrooms
• Low light switches
• Bathroom walls that can support grab-bar installation
• Accessibility to all units and public areas

You can contact your local Atlanta Housing and Urban Development (HUD) office for more information about protection from housing discrimination.

Additional resources

HUD Atlanta Regional Office

Program Directory

Five Points Plaza Building
40 Marietta St.
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-331-5136

COVID-19 regulations for senior apartments in Atlanta senior apartments

Like other apartments in Atlanta, senior apartments don’t have any major restrictions or mandates in place regarding COVID-19. Many senior apartments will likely still follow guidelines from local officials, such as the Georgia Department of Health (DPH) and Fulton County Board of Health Office of Epidemiology.

COVID-19 resources in Atlanta contact information

Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH)

Georgia DPH
2 Peachtree St., NW.
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-657-2700

Fulton County Board of Health

Office of Epidemiology
10 Park Place, SE.
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-613-1391
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Both departments have updated COVID-19 guidance and status reports available online, as well as vaccine and testing information. As of January 2023, the DPH recommends the following:

Premium luxury

For those who enjoy the finer things in life, Atlanta has plenty of senior apartment communities equipped with lavish features and amenities. High-rise senior apartments serve incomparable views of the Atlanta skyline and manicured, tree-lined streets. These pristine communities can have deluxe features, such as gated entrances and tastefully appointed indoor common areas with oversized windows and soaring ceilings.

Residents will feel at home in their open and airy floor plans, with most including full-size kitchens with stainless steel appliances and ample counter space. Residents can unwind from their own private bathrooms equipped with bath tubs or wheelchair-accessible showers in select units. To top it off, most of these upscale communities offer access to resort-style amenities, such as the following:

• State-of-the-art fitness facilities
• On-site pools
• Libraries with reading enhancement technology
• Beautician services
• On-site convenience stores

Bed and breakfast ambiance

These cozy, quaint, craftsman-style senior apartment communities exude Southern charm in every nook and cranny. The communities sit a little bit outside the city’s traffic zones and offer the quiet luxuries of the suburbs. You can embrace the peaceful surroundings while strolling through tranquil courtyards or enjoying morning coffee on inviting covered porches.

Cheery sunrooms, clubhouses, and lounge areas are a few types of common areas you can expect to find at these senior apartment communities. Enjoy getting together with friends for entertaining activities like exercise classes and shuffleboard. Many of these communities offer access to everything Atlanta’s suburbs have to offer, with charming shops and parks nearby.

Affordable selections

Atlanta has affordable and subsidized housing options for seniors with low or limited income. These communities typically participate in an affordable housing program, which means the rent can’t be more than 30% of a household’s monthly income. The remaining rent is subsidized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through its Housing Choice Voucher program.

Affordable senior apartment communities come in different shapes and sizes, and some communities exclusively accommodate residents over age 55. You’ll find many of these low-cost senior apartments offer many of the same features as other communities, which can include in-unit washers and dryers, dedicated lounge areas, and maintenance services. A selection of apartments also includes free utility services and units with private patios or balconies.

Health care for seniors in Atlanta

One of Atlanta’s most attractive assets is its exceptional hospitals. Some of the best hospitals in the country call Atlanta home, and several have received national recognition in specialties that include cancer and neurology. Below, we list some of the best hospitals in the Atlanta metro.

Transportation for seniors in Atlanta

While there are plenty of parks and walking trails, Atlanta is very much a car-reliant city. While about 57% of our partnered senior apartment communities offer complimentary transportation, it’s important to be familiar with other options available to help get you wherever you need to go, especially if you don’t have a car. We outline several transportation resources for Atlanta seniors below.

MARTA

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (or MARTA) is the metro’s bus and rail service system. MARTA serves nearly 400,000 passengers a day and is one of the largest transit systems in the United States. MARTA’s Red and Gold rail lines travel directly to and from the Airport Station inside the domestic terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson. It also operates the Atlanta Streetcar, which offers convenient access to several stops in the downtown area.

Seniors who are a bit wary of public transportation will be relieved about MARTA’s Travel Training Program, which helps them learn to safely navigate and ride its routes on their own. Seniors and Medicare cardholders also enjoy discounted fare cards, which can be used for all of MARTA’s bus and rail lines.

Empowerline

Empowerline, which is part of Georgia’s Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) network, can help you discover even more senior transportation resources near you. You can contact their trained counselors directly by calling the number below or using their online search tool in the section below. From there, you’ll simply complete the following steps:

1. Select the transportation from the category drop-down box.
2. Choose the type of service you’d like.
3. Pick your county to find the nearest resources.

Atlanta transportation resources

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority

MARTA
2424 Piedmont Rd., NE
Atlanta, GA 30324
Customer service: 404-848-5000
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Empowerline

Find senior transportation services in Atlanta
Phone: 404-463-3333

Navigating the city

You can see how Atlanta ranks for its walkability, public transit, and bike friendliness below. These scores are out of 100 — with 100 being the best — and indicate Atlanta is fairly reliant on cars for daily life with some access to public transportation and bike lanes.