questions & answers

Question: I recently moved into a condo and i signed a lease and she accepted payment and I moved in. Then a few days later she came to me and told me I need to get out because she had found out about an old landlord who gave me a bad review. I didnt lie on my application i gave her two years back even thou she asked for five. she didnt say anything about it and approved my application. Does she have any right to evict me?

Answer: Your rights can be found in the Arizona Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (found here: http://www.azhousing.gov/ShowPage.aspx?ID=484&CID=11). Under A.R.S. 33-1368, it would be a material breach by you if you falsified information on the rental application (regarding number of occupants, pets, income, social security number, current employment, criminal records, prior eviction record, and criminal activity). If, however, you answered all of the questions accurately and truthfully, and there is no other basis to evict you, the bad review from your old landlord is not a legal basis to evict you and you should be able to successfully defend any efforts to evict you. If she files an eviction action, I recommend you seek the assistance of a competent attorney as you may be entitled to recover your attorneys' fees and costs against her if you prevail. I wish you the best.