[GA] Can a landlord require full monthly rent when a month-to-month tenant moves out mid-month?

My tenant is moving out Nov 15. They gave notice on Sept 15 and it is a month to month lease using this form. I am stating that full month of November is due and I'm giving them a credit back for essentially 1 week rent as a gesture/ goodwill. They are demanding it be prorated to the full amount. They did enter in via a few days proration at the beginning. They assumed proration at the end without requesting it. What are my options?

We don't have statements about the notice periods in the agreement.

They moved in with proration on the front end and this was written in under a different agreement and it was assumed by them that this would be offered on the check-out.

I have a copy of the lease if this is helpful. Also, the tenant is a realtor so is trying to use this as a leverage point saying they know what they are doing.

Thanks. This is a house in Sharpsburg, Georgia.

The lease does not write this in. They moved in partial month but there is no provision for this written in. It was a 12 month lease that went to "month-to-month" about 18 months ago with a 60-day notice requirement. The lease doesn't have language for leaving mid-month is a more accurate way to respond to your question.

Is them giving notice on Sept 15 that they are leaving Nov 15 an automatic assumption of prorating the rent? (I was assuming they would pay the full month rent).

I offered them a 25% of the month credit as a gesture (meeting in the middle of our misunderstanding). It is sum of about $525. She (realtor) is saying it is always the case and "best practice" and that it is written into all the standard GA realtor leases to prorate at the beginning and the end.

This is the bottom line question. I was and am working under the terms of our lease agreement, and they are working under assumptions but trying to make them legally binding to me because I offered it on their move-in. Now they are mad and I need to defuse the situation and ultimately be reasonable throughout. I am aware that I cannot rent to someone else and collect rent from 2 parties for the same location during the same time period.

If it is a month-to-month lease is it standard that it is "monthly rent" unless there is proration agreed upon in writing? Is this the right way to think about it?

Ok. Thanks. This is helpful that I'm not going crazy.

I want to follow the law and also be reasonable too. On move-out, is it standard that they return the property in a clean state like when it was found? I had a professional cleaner before they move in ($600-700) make it look amazing for them. And if this is not the case, can this be taken out of the security deposit?

Here is what is in the lease:
The Tenant(s) at all times shall, at their own expense unless otherwise stated in this Agreement, maintain the Premises in a clean and sanitary manner, and shall surrender the same at termination hereof, in as good condition as received, normal wear and tear excepted. The Tenant(s) may not make any alterations to the Premises without the written consent of the Landlord. The Landlord shall be responsible for structural repairs to defects in the interior and exterior.

Helpful - I did have this under the "additional terms."

In addition to all the terms, conditions, covenants, and provisions of this Agreement, the Landlord and Tenant(s) agree to the following: Holder shall have the right to deduct from the Security Deposit:

1. the cost of repairing any damage to Premises or Property caused by Tenant, Tenant’s household or their invitees, licensees and guests, other than normal wear and tear;
2. unpaid rent, utility charges or pet fees;
3. cleaning costs if premises is left unclean;
4. the cost to remove and dispose of any personal property;
5. late fees and any other unpaid fees, costs and charges referenced herein.

Re-Key Fee. Upon vacating the Premises Tenant agrees to pay the fee to rekey the locks set for the lease where herein either upon the termination of the Lease or to replace any mailbox keys or access cards not returned by Tenant at move out.

Ok - this sounds good. Thanks. I'm good here. Appreciate your help.

Hope you have a good rest of your day. Thanks for doing what you're doing.