questions & answers

Question: Can my landlord continue to fine me HOA fees for a dead tree in my yard? I looked at my leases and it says I’m responsible for yard maintenance but paying to have a whole tree cutdown doesn’t seem like maintenance to me. It alters the property and I rent this house not own it. I’ve went back and forth with them on this and they stop responding to me and attached fines to my rent.

Answer: None of the rules in the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act address this specific issue, so it might be wise to contact a legal advocate. There are links to free and low-cost legal services on this website (at http://www.azlawhelp.org/accessToJustice). In the meantime, tenants are always advise to document such situations carefully (for example, by keeping copies of all correspondence, which should be in writing) in case the landlord later decides to try to have the tenant evicted for either failing to pay the HOA fees or otherwise breaching the rental agreement.