questions & answers

Question: I’m trying to give my landlady my 30 day notice as well as my last months rent. I’ve tried going to her office when she didn’t come to the door I tried calling her and left a voicemail. Finally I’ve sent her a text as well as a photo of my written notice and I’ve had no response. Since I have proof of trying to contact her of my notice does it still count until I can get her the actual notice in person if she ever responds? I’m getting ready to move into my new place and I’m worried she might try to say she never received notice.

Answer: Under the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (ARLTA), landlords are required to provide their tenants in writing with a name and mailing address to which the tenant may send requests and notices (A.R.S. 33-1322(A)). Such requests and notices should be either hand-delivered to the landlord or sent by registered or certified mail to the address provided (A.R.S. 33-1313(B)). A tenant whose landlord did not provide them with such an address should do their very best to document their attempts to contact their landlord in case their landlord later claims that they never received the request or notice and the matter goes before a judge. The ARLTA states that a tenant gives “notice” to the landlord “by taking steps reasonably calculated to inform” the landlord (A.R.S. 33-1313(B)), so the tenant should make a genuine effort to reach the landlord by every means possible and keep a detailed record of that effort.