questions & answers

Question: I have had got behind in my rent back in March of 2019 due to some health issues I had to leave my job. I receive disability and so I have been paying what I could afford. The landlord took those payments but with all the late fees building up. Was informed today that our apts were sold and new owners served me with a 5 day notice. There is no way that I can pay in full in 5 days nor can I find my family another place in 5 days. What can I do?

Answer: A tenant who owes back rent and/or late fees or other charges and receives a 5-day “pay or quit” notice has 5 days to either pay the amount owing or move out, because at the end of the 5-day period the landlord may file an eviction complaint against the tenant, at which point the tenant will face the possibility of being evicted and owing not only the entire amount being sought by the landlord but also court costs and attorneys’ fees (A.R.S. 33-1368). In most cases, the tenant’s only other option is to try to negotiate a written extension, but the landlord is not required to grant one. The Supreme Court of Arizona’s Self-Help Center provides tenants with more information about the eviction process here: https://azcourthelp.org/browse-by-topic/eviction/tenant-information.