Housing

questions & answers

Question: My landlord repaired a broken sliding glass door at my rental. It’s $280 dollars and he’s added it to next months rent. Do I have to pay the full amount next month or can I partially pay it off?

Answer: The Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (ARLTA) does not provide an answer to this specific question. Under the ARLTA, a landlord is required by law to (among other things) “comply with the requirements of applicable building codes materially affecting health and safety” (which directly address broken doors that may create a dangerous condition or invite trespassers or reduce weather protection) (A.R.S. 9-1303)) and “make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition” (A.R.S. 33-1324). As a general rule, a tenant is only responsible for making related repairs if the problems in need of repair resulted from the tenant failing to “not deliberately or negligently destroy, deface, damage, impair or remove any part of the premises or knowingly permit any person to do so” (A.R.S. 33-1341).